Private landlords are being urged to let or lease their properties to a London council “to help residents at risk of homelessness.”
Greenwich council’s scheme, which includes free training and support to landlords, aims to match people on the housing register with private landlords to reduce numbers in costly temporary accommodation.
A council spokesperson says: “We’re looking for more private sector landlords to help us tackle the housing crisis by renting or leasing their properties to us for people and families that really need a stable home.
“Like many London boroughs the demand for housing far outweighs the supply we have, and this is also true for those households at risk of homelessness or living in temporary accommodation.
“We’re working continuously to reduce the number of households in hotels or bed and breakfasts, which currently stands at fewer than 50, as we know it is costly and doesn’t guarantee the stability that families need to thrive.
“We want people to have access to a safe and secure home that meets their needs, so if you are a landlord with a property to rent or to lease, get in touch with us today – we have attractive options and will work with you to provide the homes our residents really need.”
The council is looking for landlords with properties to rent or lease in the borough or in the surrounding areas.
The scheme is completely free with no fees, commissions or charges with rents paid at the Local Housing Allowance rate.
If the property requires maintenance or improvement, grants of up to £15,000 are available to bring it up to our standards. In addition, the council provides free training and support to landlords to help run and develop their business.
The scheme also provides landlords with the option to lease their property to us, which – the council claims – takes away the hassle of finding tenants, collecting rents and managing the tenancies.
The leasing scheme provides guaranteed rent paid monthly in advance for the whole of the time that the property is leased to us, including during void periods, and agreements can initially be for two to five years, with longer leases of 10 years or more also available.
