Landlords in a Midlands city are being asked to help find safe places to live for homeless individuals and families.

The council in Nottingham says private landlords who may have an empty home or space for a new tenancy should get in touch to help give people a home.

The council’s Nottingham Private Rented Assistance Scheme aims to reduce the number of families at risk of homelessness, by providing landlords with free or low-cost services.

In the last year, local landlords have helped NPRAS to house 409 homeless households in the city through this route.

Landlords who join NPRAS are given support with what the council describes as ”a free lettings service” which includes tenant finding and referencing with accompanied viewings, advanced payments of deposits or bonds and monthly rent, and free administration including all legal paperwork, Right To Rent checks and Tenancy Agreements.

The council also offers a detailed inventory, with photos, at the start of the tenancy, Universal Credit and Housing Benefit payments sent directly to landlords, plus a written bond allowing landlords to claim for damage or rent arrears directly from NPRAS.

The council also offers a so-called low-cost management service for £35 per month which includes regular inspections, safety checks, rent collection, tenancy management and mediation and end of tenancy check outs, including inspections and inventories.

The council is offering to invite any interested landlords to a Microsoft Teams event to learn more about the scheme, the types of tenants the team have housed and find out what support NPRAS can offer.

The event is on June 23 at 6pm for 45 minutes. Anyone wishing to attend should email [email protected] or for any enquiries – npras.co.uk or telephone 0115 8761644.