Housing Advice, Housing Options and Homelessness

The housing advice and options service offers free and confidential advice to anyone who has housing problems or who needs help with finding somewhere to live.

Finding accommodation

We can help you find a place to live. We cannot guarantee that we can secure a home for everyone, but we can provide information about renting privately and advise on your housing options. If you find accommodation and you are on a low income, we can advise on housing benefit to help you with the rent.

Homelessness prevention

Wherever possible, we will work with you to try to prevent you from becoming homeless. If you are experiencing problems which put you at risk of homelessness it is important that you contact the housing advice and options team as soon as possible.

You should make every effort to try to solve the housing difficulties you may be facing and ask for advice early. A housing advice officer will work with you to try to prevent you losing your current home, or discuss the options available to you to prevent you from becoming homeless.

If you are homeless, you may make a homeless application. However, we only have a legal duty to provide accommodation for some households who are homeless.

For more information, visit our homelessness advice pages or contact the housing advice and options team.

Your rights if you are renting accommodation from a private landlord

Our housing advice and options team has information available to tenants of private landlords, which provide advice on their legal rights in relation to their tenancy or other queries. See also our guide to private renting pages.

Tackling harassment and illegal eviction

All tenants have the right to "quiet enjoyment" of their home, and if this is being interfered with in any way by your landlord you should seek advice straight way. We have the powers to deal with harassment and illegal eviction and will prosecute when it is appropriate. Visit our problems with your landlord page for more information or contact the housing advice and options team.

Money advice

Our housing advice and options team can advise you about claiming housing benefit. They can also guide you to the right agencies to help with your welfare benefits and financial problems relating to your home.

Advice for young single people 16-25

We can advise you on the housing options available for young people in South Cambridgeshire and neighbouring areas. We may be able to refer you to mediation to try and solve problems at home or refer you to a supported housing project. We can also refer you to agencies who can advise you on benefits, training and employment. Visit our useful contacts page for addresses and contact information where you may be able to get more help or contact the housing advice and options team.

Where to go for furniture

If you are moving into a new home and you are receiving state benefits, we may be able to refer you to organisations that can provide you with cheap second hand furniture. Visit our useful contacts page for addresses and contact information where you may be able to get more help or contact the housing advice and options team.

The housing support service

Housing support workers can provide practical help to households who may need extra support to maintain their tenancies. Visit our housing support service pages for more information or contact the housing advice and options team.

Advice for private landlords

We can provide advice for private landlords on tenancy agreements and their rights and responsibilities as landlords, including how to lawfully end a tenancy and advice on repairs and safety regulations. Contact housing advice and options team for more information.

Service Guarantees

We aim to deal with all enquiries in a sympathetic and polite way. We will always be fair and your case will be dealt with in the strictest confidence. In return we would ask that our staff are treated in a polite and reasonable way.

If you have a problem that needs urgent attention, we will normally discuss this with you on the same working day. Alternatively, we will arrange an appointment for you at a time to suit your needs. See also our customer service standard for housing.

Policies

Equality and diversity

South Cambridgeshire District Council fully supports the principles of equality and diversity in employment and service delivery. Our policy is that people are not discriminated against on the grounds of race, religion, ethnic origin, nationality,age, gender, sexual orientation, disability and marital status.

Protection from abuse

We recognise our responsibilities to our employees and residents who are receiving a service. We will not tolerate the abuse of vulnerable individuals by anyone in a relationship of trust with them - friends, relatives, care staff, housing staff etc and have policies and procedures in place to deal with these issues should the need arise.