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Lettings Policy Review

The Local Authorities which form Home-Link ran a consultation on proposed changes to the Sub-Regional Lettings Policy at the end of 2020.

Overall the consultation results showed significant support for the proposed amendments and it was recommended that no further substantial changes were needed.  Each of the Home-Link Local Authorities have now gained approval for the changes through their formal democratic processes, and the updated Lettings Policy has been unanimously approved. As a result this was implemented on 5th July 2021. 
 

The Policy was revisited again in 2022 and it was found that it continues to deliver the desired outcomes and that there have been no unintended consequences from the changes made.

Consultation Results

The Home-Link Lettings Policy consultation closed on 18 December 2020.  In total 623 responses were received from across the Cambridgeshire and West Suffolk sub region. 48% of these were from existing applicants on the Housing Register, although a range of people replied, including Home-Link partners and representatives from interested organisations such as the Probation Service and Domestic Abuse support services. 

Overall, there were high levels of agreement for the proposed amendments and it is therefore likely that the draft of the policy consulted on will remain largely unchanged, with the exception of some further minor wording changes.

You can read more about the consultation responses and further changes here.

Choosing somewhere near to live can be a big challenge – especially if you have a care need.

Willow Court’s ‘try before you move’ initiative, allows those aged 55 and over who are thinking about moving into assisted living the chance to stay at Willow Court in one of the furnished apartments before committing to making the move full-time, has proved popular.

Two people to have taken advantage of the scheme include Brian Jones* and Emily Edwards*. They’ve since gone on to reserve flats at Willow Court, which is made up of 47 one bedroom and 13 two bedroom flats for those over-55 who have a care need.

Brian said: “I spent four days there in August and had a great experience. I’ve a partner in Whittelsey and had seen Willow Court being built, so when I saw it being advertised I thought I’d give it a try. I live in a three bedroom house here, quite a large house. It’s a family home and it’s too big for me now my family have moved away. I’m paying a gardener and a cleaner, so it’s not really a suitable house for me anymore. I enquired and they looked after me. It was a very good stay. I met some very nice people and I’ve now sorted a flat there for me to move into. I can’t wait to move in. I’d recommend trying Willow Court before committing. It was a great experience and I love the place. It’s clean, it’s modern and the staff are efficient and polite.”

Each apartment at Willow Court is finished with high-quality fixtures and fittings, as well as neutral decoration to allow residents to make it feel like home. Willow Court also boasts a residents’ lounge, restaurant, hair salon and therapy room, micro-shop and communal gardens.

Emily also moved into Willow Court after taking part in the ‘try before you move’ scheme. She said: “It’s been home ever since I came here. The ‘try before you move’ idea was very good, and it was well worth doing. You get the feeling for the surroundings and you get to talk to people. I didn’t feel like it was walking into a home and being sat in a chair. I took to this place straight away after deciding I needed to leave my bungalow as I couldn’t expect my family to be there all the time with me. If anyone is a bit apprehensive, I could only recommend doing what I’ve done. I loved it here as soon as I saw it and everyone is so kind here.”

For more information about the ‘Try before you move’ scheme, visit our website or call Scheme Manager Sally Lock on 01733 705 101.

*Not our customers’ real names.

Mill View - Extra Care Retirement Residence

Mill View is a brand new Extra Care Retirement (independent living) residence for the over 55’s. Just five miles from Cambridge, and less than a mile from the M11 motorway, Mill View enjoys excellent transport links. Set on the edge of the countryside near the village of Hauxton,  Mill View offers plenty of opportunities for cycling, walking and exploring the local area.

Communal Facilities include 2x lounges and a roof top Café. We have 24 hour care on site with packages tailored to individual needs, including domestic services. We also have night concierge staff on hand throughout the night, a caretaker and a senior housing coordinator during the day Monday to Friday. As a rental property a care package would need to be in place, however, we can assist with this if one is not already in place. Each apartment has its own balcony or patio area. Local connections needed to Cambridge City and/or South Cambridgeshire District Council. Further enquiries please contact Hussein Eid on (01223) 873316, or to see details of the scheme click here.

Mutual Exchange

If you are a social housing tenants, there's more than one way to move. As well as looking for a new home through Home-Link, you can also advertise your home for 'swap' with another tenant on the Exchange Locata website. Why not take a look and see what is available?

Please note that you need your landlord's permission to carry out a mutual exchange. You will need a clear rent account and the property you  move to   must  be suitable for your needs. Speak to your landlord for further advice.