Home-Link
Home-Link (www.home-link.org.uk) is the choice based lettings scheme for council and housing association properties in the Cambridge region. When one of our homes becomes available, it will be advertised on the Home-Link website along with all other available council and housing association properties in the region.
If you are eligible, you can bid for properties when they are advertised. In order to check your eligibility and have access to bidding you will need to register with your local council or their agent.
Council Contact Details
| Cambridge City Council | www.cambridge.gov.uk | 01223 457000 |
| East Cambridgeshire District Council | www.eastcambs.gov.uk | 01353 665555 |
| Fenland District Council | www.fenland.gov.uk | 01354 354321 |
| Huntingdonshire District Council | www.huntsdc.gov.uk | 01480 388388 |
| South Cambridgeshire District Council | www.scambs.gov.uk | 08450 450 5000 |
Rent Types
There are a number of different rent types that HHS use. These are:
Fair Rents
Protected Assured or Secure tenancies which began prior to 15th January 1989 are subject
to the Fair Rents Regime which prescribes that the maximum rent will be set by a
Valuation Office Agency Rent Officer under the provisions of the Rent Act 1977. Service
charges are in addition to the rent element.
Fair rents are reviewed annually. To do this, we are required to obtain a new fair rent valuation
from the Rent Officer every two years as part of the review process. Fair rents will be
increased or decreased in line with social rents and will be capped at the lower of the rent
set by the Rent Officer and formula rent (subject to both the rent caps and rent flexibility
level).
Social Rents
Social rent (also known as target or formula rent) is applied to all other general needs
tenancies which are not affordable rent housing. Social rents are set in line with the formula set out in
the Rent Policy Statement and any supplementary guidance, excluding any service
charges.
Social rents will be reviewed annually in accordance with the Rent Standard 2020
guidelines set by the Government which limits any increase of rent for existing tenants to a
maximum of the September Consumer Price Index (CPI) + 1%; or CPI where the rent
exceeds the rent flexibility level, in any year.
Affordable Rents
Affordable rent is applied where the property is subject to a supply delivery agreement with Homes England, including any agreed rent conversions. It is also applied to any subsequent re-let once a revaluation has been obtained. Affordable rents are inclusive of
service charges.
HHS will set all affordable rents at the initial letting or at re-let at the lower of 80% of the market rent, as determined by a RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) accredited valuer, and the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate relevant to the size of the home.
Affordable rents will be reviewed annually in accordance with the RSH Rent Standard and any supplementary guidance. If an affordable rent is lower than the equivalent social rent, the rent will be fixed at social rent level with an adjustment for inflation being applicable if it
is set during the year.
Intermediate Rents
HHS uses intermediate rent for key worker, ex-constabulary, and other homes where an intermediate rent can be charged. Intermediate rents do not include service charges.
At the initial letting, or at re-let, we set intermediate rents taking local market context into consideration, up to a maximum of 80% of the market rent, as determined by a RICS accredited valuer. Our Intermediate rents will be reviewed annually, and flexibility applied after considering local market conditions, demand and other factors, such as affordability.
