A scheme set up by a council to help reduce the cost of temporary accommodation has helped 35 households avoid homelessness, it’s claimed.
Mansfield council set up to Private Rented Access Scheme earlier this year and it is offered to people who are facing homelessness or housed in temporary accommodation, such as hotels and bed and breakfast.
The council rehouses these people into private rented housing by paying the rental deposits and advanced rent payment to private landlords.
It also works with RentGuarantor – a company that offers an insurance-backed service to offer extra security for landlords should a tenant fall into rent arrears.
Of the 35 households helped by the scheme so far, seven were able to access the accommodation because they took out a policy with RentGuarantor.
Homlex, a Leicester-based property management company, acts on behalf of one of the landlords that joined the scheme in Mansfield.
A spokesperson says: “We have three properties with Mansfield and are certainly open to expanding this number. One of the main concerns for landlords is the risk of missed rent payments and assessing tenant viability. Mansfield’s approach addresses both issues effectively.
“The clarity and specificity of their programme make it particularly appealing along with a dedicated point of contact, prompt responses and additional tenant support. I highly recommend this scheme to other landlords.”
And a council spokesperson adds: “Increasingly the council has been forced to use hotels which, as well as being expensive, are not satisfactory places for anyone to live for more than a few days. Not enough council homes come up for let to help the number of people waiting and although we are building more homes, that takes time and people need housing now
“This scheme helps people over the hurdle that makes it hard for many people to take on a private rented home – finding the money for the deposit and first month’s advance rent. I am proud of the innovative and pragmatic way the council has approached this issue.”
In Mansfield district there are currently 37 households in interim accommodation waiting for permanent homes. There are currently 4,728 on the housing waiting list with 189 applicants being in Band One – the highest priority.
This article is taken from Landlord Today