There have been several examples of local councils asking private landlords to help find accommodation for refugees - but now the letting agents body ARLA Propertymark is doing the same.
Propertymark has recently been supporting non-profit national mobility scheme, Homefinder UK, which work ls with over 50 local authorities and housing associations across the UK.
Its objective is to support people in finding long term secure housing solutions, with a key strategic aim of supporting individuals and families who have been affected by conflict.
Following a recent UK Government announcement introducing a new pilot scheme in the West Midlands and North West of England to aid Afghan refugees currently residing in hotels secure long-term housing, Homefinder UK wants to help settle individuals and families within communities and provide support to those in this ‘bridging’ accommodation.
Propertymark says it welcomes any scheme that hopes to enhance opportunities for people to integrate into communities more easily via the Private Rented Sector, especially now that it is recognised that in the social housing sector demand outstrips availability.
A Propertymark statement says: “While similar challenges exist in the Private Rented Sector, Propertymark are keen to play a leading role in ensuring private landlords are fully supported and best equipped to offer both safe and quality accommodation.”
Propertymark Policy Officer, Tim Thomas, comments: “We are continuing to call for support for the private rented sector and encourage further wide-ranging commitment to help solve ongoing issues. We are extremely supportive of this pilot and look forward to continuing working with Homefinder UK.”
Due to an extreme lack of social housing currently available in many geographical locations, Propertymark wants a comprehensive review on what assistance can be offered to help landlords provide accommodation of the very highest standard possible.
With several complexities, such as current increases in interest rates and developments on the horizon such as the Renters Reform Bill, Propertymark says it wants “to ensure a fair and sensible system is developed to increase housing capacity and quality in line with demand.”
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Have they not heard? There are no properties available! Particularly the large ones Afghans typically need. And at LHA rates? You are asking LLs to fund Govt policy! Funny how millions can be found to house refugees in hotels but when they are placed in the PRS the money drops back down to LHA. Perhaps if the money offered were MV more LLs would consider it.
Exactly 👍🏻👍🏻
When you're getting 30 or 40 enquiries for a property and listening to some truly desperate stories it means hard decisions have to be made.
When the choice is a family with children at local schools and jobs in the area who have been served with a Section 21 because their landlord is selling or a new arrival from Afghanistan with no local ties and no job who would most of us choose.
Especially if one can provide references while the other can't.
There simply isn't enough housing for everyone.
They must be joking 🙃, April 1st coming early for next year 🤐
The Above comments say it ALL.
I’ll pass thx
Will the full market rent be paid on time every month? we all know it won't so a big fat NO from me
Why would I expose myself to ‘making a loss’ by housing these refugees?
Why should I work with local authorities who have zero respect for the PRS?
Why should I house people when Gov clearly prefers to pay ‘hotels’ very substantially more than they are prepared to pay me?
No, no, there needs to be a real change in attitude toward the PRS before I will offer my properties.
The tragedy is a housing crises is needed before anything will change for the better.
Gov are reaping what they have sown.
Are we living in the Twilight zone?
So this is a similar story form the other day when the local councils have been offering top ups for up to 24 months to local market rates.
What happens after 24 months it drops to LHA rates ?? Who picks up the shortfall then? If they cannot afford then how do you get them out? The same council will offer them advice on what to do and how to avoid being booted out, they will then direct them to Generation Shelter them from Acorn action group who will have them fully briefed on how to avoid eviction notices.
This will then drive the poor souls and I mean landlords by poor souls to go to the solicitor to serve section 8 and go through the full process of eviction. Any top ups evaporated and the LHA doesnt cover the mortgage....
So that will be a no from me..
If you read the serco contract for renting to them, for these unknowns, you are liable for things you have no control over.
Wonder if Generation Rant, Shelter, Acorn-brains et al. back this call.
I guess not for two reasons:
-would mean less homes available for their (non-Afgan) supporters; and
-would also mean they would have to be nice to Landlords, when we know they aren't and we'd just laugh.
The cheek of Councils etc. asking LLds to help when they and Govt. want the Rental Reform Bill and no Section 21 is massive.
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