A scheme encouraging private landlords to lease their properties to local authorities for as long as 20 years has now been extended across Wales.

Leasing Scheme Wales isa Welsh Government-funded initiative that gives landlords and property owners the opportunity to lease their property to their local council for five to 20 years.

The council will use properties to house priority cases who may otherwise be at risk of homelessness.

In return landlords get a guaranteed rent every month with council-backed pledges of no arrears and no void periods. There will be no management, insurance, or compliance costs – these are taken care of by the local authorities.

In some cases there will be grants of up to £5,000 available for improvement – or up to £25,000 for currently-empty homes.

The scheme’s organisers say the savings in things like lettings agency fees could ad up to £10,000 over a five-year lease.

A statement from the scheme says: “Whether you’re looking to avoid the hassle of day-to-day management or for a way to bring your empty property back to life, Leasing Scheme Wales is here to make the process simpler. With all 22 local authorities on board, now’s a great time to get started!”