Housing IDVAs offer direct trauma informed IDVA support to survivors at any level of risk, referred by housing teams and providers.
They offer support to:
- Survivors who attend a housing advice service and are facing homelessness due to domestic abuse.
- Survivors disclosing domestic abuse who are living in social housing. Â
- They will also offer support to survivors in local authority temporary accommodation who are homeless due to due to domestic abuse.
They offer advice on safety planning and risk management and can offer advocacy and liaison with agencies working with the survivor, support with housing, the court process, police as well as referrals to other support for survivors of DA.
Please use the link on the Make a Referral page to make a referral to the Housing IDVAs, attaching a completed DASH if possible.
Managed Reciprocals
Our local managed housing reciprocal scheme enables individuals and families who are at risk of domestic abuse or violence and who have a social tenancy, to move to a safe area (within Cambridgeshire or Peterborough) whilst retaining their tenancy. This process is coordinated by the IDVA Service.
The loss of a social tenancy can be a form of re-victimisation for victim/survivors. Not only are victim/survivors asked to leave their home to escape violence and abuse perpetrated by someone else, but by doing so are penalised through the loss of their social tenancy.
Ideally, victim/survivors should not have to give up their homes and rights to keep safe from abuse. However, measures to prevent perpetrators from accessing the home (Sanctuary Schemes) and/or to remove perpetrators from the home (court order or custody) are not always adequate or appropriate. Sometimes, victim/survivors do not want to pursue criminal or court proceedings and, instead of adding security measures to their homes, would prefer to leave. In these cases, a reciprocal move offers an option for victim/survivors to access affordable and stable housing and rebuild their lives.
This scheme wouldn’t be suitable as an “emergency response”, as it could take some time to identify an alternative home.
The Cambridgeshire reciprocal scheme is the only one in the UK which provides the option of relocating the perpetrator if it is deemed safe to do so. This allows the victim/survivor to remain in their home and it is often quicker to identify a property for a single person than a family-size property.
To be considered for a move under this scheme, a victim/survivor must be working with a domestic abuse specialist to ensure all relevant safety measure are in place and that the proposed new home would be suitable for their needs.
If you have any questions, please email Vickie or Julia – Vickie.crompton@cambridgeshire.gov.uk / Julia.cullum@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
If you are a Domestic Abuse Specialist, please contact Mandy.Thorp@peterborough.gov.uk who coordinates referrals and can provide you with the appropriate forms to start this process.
CKH Tenancy types
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Tenancy type
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Summary |
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Assured non-shorthold (general needs)
Peterborough properties that were stock transfer from PCC. |
Assured life-long tenancy. Standard social landlord rents apply (these tenancies have the lowest rents). Tenants have right to acquire the property (in most circumstances). Tenants have right to mutual exchange. Security of tenure, unless breaches of tenancy – a Notice of seeking possession could be served (in some cases, breaches lead to absolute possession proceedings). |
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Assured non-shorthold (sheltered)
Peterborough properties that were stock transfer from PCC. |
Tenants over 65. As above but no right to acquire. Standard social landlord rents apply. Service charges apply – scheme manger and communal spaces.
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Affordable Rent Periodic Assured (general needs)
New- build properties, Peterborough and Cambridgeshire. |
Tenancy has a five- year review period included – this means needs would be reassessed (e.g. family no longer need a three bed, have two bed need – we would support to downsize). Affordable rents (higher rent but will not exceed the local housing allowance in terms of benefit claims). Tenants have right to acquire the property (in most circumstances). Tenants have right to mutual exchange. Security of tenure, unless breaches of tenancy – a Notice of seeking possession could be served (in some cases, breaches lead to absolute possession proceedings).
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