Other Useful Documents & Information
Trafford Council’s Allocations Policy (link - http://www.trafford.gov.uk/about-your-council/strategies-plans-and-policies/housing-strategy/docs/Housing-Allocation-Policy.pdf)
Affordable Rents Explained
What is an affordable rented property?
Affordable Rent is intended to help those who would not otherwise have been able to afford housing in the private sector. It is designed to provide an alternative to traditional social rent and the additional rental charges help registered providers to build more homes to improve access to social housing.
The difference between Social Rent and Affordable Rent is that Affordable Rent will be slightly higher as it allows the landlord to charge up to 80% of market rent levels within the local area. But these rents will still be low and affordable. However, landlords may carry out a financial assessment as part of their short listing process to ensure it is affordable to each applicant, before they will proceed with an allocation.
In most cases, where applicants are eligible to receive housing benefit or the housing element of universal credit, the rent would be covered by this payment. For more information about the Local Housing Allowance rates in Trafford, please click here (https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/SearchResults.aspx?LocalAuthorityId=42&LHACategory=999&Month=6&Year=2018&SearchPageParameters=true)
Affordable Rented properties will be allocated in the same way that Social Rented properties are now through Trafford Home Choice and there will be no change to the services tenants will receive.
Affordable Rents will only apply to new development or converted void properties and will not apply to all social housing.
Because the partner landlords are only applying these rents to a percentage of properties, from time to time you may see two identical properties in the same street advertised at two different rents.
Fixed Term Tenancy Explained
What is a Fixed Term Tenancy?
In the past all the homes we have advertised under our social housing banner have been life time tenancies. Some properties are now advertised as fixed term tenancies so, rather than offering a tenancy that can be in place for life these tenancies will have a fixed term, some will be 5 years some might be 20 years.
Fixed term tenancies will mainly apply to family homes & general needs flats. Supported and over 55's flats & bungalows will continue to be offered as lifetime tenancies. Please read each advert carefully to ensure you understand what you are applying for as our different housing providers will be offering different terms and conditions with their fixed term tenancies.
In most cases, when the fixed term comes to an end, another fixed term tenancy will be issued. Only in exceptional cases would the registered provider not renew it. Exceptions could include:
- Persistent rent arrears
- Persistent delay in paying rent
- Anti-social behaviour
- Neglect of property
- Under-occupancy of 2 or more bedrooms