Renting privately

Private Sector Liaison

Cheshire East Council employs two private sector liaison officers to help both tenants and landlords with queries, questions or problems in the private rented sector. The liaison officers work closely with the Housing Options Team to source private rented properties as well as matching housheolds looking for accommodation with properties available to let.

The Private Sector Liaison Officers can be contacted via the Housing Options Team on 0300 123 5017.

Information on Renting Privately

Renting a property in the private sector is fast becoming a more affordable and accessible options for households in Cheshire East. Cheshire East has a significant shortage of social housing but has a large and thriving private rented market.

Renting privately can often be slightly more expensive than renting from a social landlord but there are advantages:

• You can usually move in quickly
• The accommodation can come furnished, carpeted and decorated
• You can be more selective about the location and type of property you rent.

If you need assistance to pay your rent you may need to make an application for Local Housing Allowance. This application can be made through the Housing Benefits Department, and the amount you receive is determined by an assessment process based on your income and savings. Some people can find this a confusing process, for a more detailed explanation please contact Housing Benefits.

Landlord/tenant issues

Housing officers can negotiate with other landlords and/or tenants in order to resolve disputes or misunderstandings. Quite often even when a landlord has served notice, there are ways in which we can help you to resolve issues so that you can remain in your family home. We will consider:

• Landlord / tenant mediation
• Floating support referrals
• Debt and finance management.

Preventing eviction by resolving disputes will always be our primary aim. However, we need your full co-operation and permission before we can contact your landlord to discuss your circumstances.

Eviction from other landlords

Before you can be evicted from an assured shorthold tenancy there is a course of action your landlord must legally follow.

Your landlord must:

• Give you 2 months’ notice that you are expected to move
• Give this notice in writing
• Bring the tenancy to a close at the end of a rental period.

Your landlord is also not entitled to bring a tenancy to an end until after the first fixed term of your tenancy has passed, unless you are two months in arrears with your rent or have broken other specific tenancy conditions.

If you feel that your landlord is trying to evict you without following the lawful procedure you should contact one the housing options team who will be able to offer advice and assistance. We can negotiate with your landlord in order to ensure your tenancy is ended correctly to allow you adequate time to find alternative accommodation. We could also help you understand why problems have arisen in the tenancy and try to find ways to resolve them.