Housing crisis leaves 13,000 social homes ready to be built but without buyers
2 years ago | 9 comments
Council offers to ‘top-up’ rent to bring homeless numbers down
12:02 AM, 14th October 2024, 2 years ago
5
A council is trying to address its housing crisis by offering cash incentives to landlords to make private renting more affordable for families currently living in temporary accommodation.
The city council has been struggling to meet the increasing demand for council housing, with more than 1,000 households currently relying on temporary accommodation.
Many of these families have found it difficult to secure private rented homes due to high rents.
Now Milton Keynes City says it will consider paying the difference between the rent a landlord is asking and what a prospective tenant can afford.
‘Private rents are unaffordable for many people’
The council’s cabinet member for housing, Coun Ed Hume, said: “Everyone has the right to a decent, safe and secure home.
“We know that private rents are unaffordable for many people and this new initiative aims to bridge that gap.”
He added: “Landlords who want the assurance that a market rent will be guaranteed for the life of a tenancy should get in touch with us if they are able to help.”
Help more families find stable homes
The council believes that its new scheme will not only help more families find stable homes but also save the council money in the long run.
That’s because the topping-up scheme will be cheaper than maintaining temporary accommodation.
In addition, the city council already provides landlords with cash incentives of up to £6,680 for offering long-term rental agreements and guaranteed rent for the term of a tenancy.
These initiatives have helped prevent homelessness for several families in the past year.
Landlords interested in learning more about these incentives are encouraged to visit the city council’s website.
Tags:
affordable housing, council housing, Council incentives for landlords UK, Guaranteed rent schemes for landlords, landlord incentives, Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes rent top up scheme, Private rent affordability solutions, Private Renting, Reducing homelessness through landlord incentives, UK
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Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 1590
4:39 PM, 14th October 2024, About 2 years ago
Does the council think landlords are sitting on empty properties?
If poorer people are helped to secure a rental property, those that can afford to pay the rent will be the new homeless people.
Why won’t they admit that net migration is the problem? The only problem.
Member Since October 2022 - Comments: 58
4:58 PM, 14th October 2024, About 2 years ago
Whilst councils advise tenants to ignore court orders, why should any landlord assist them? Not withstanding this, I would be very reluctant to entertain such an offer from a council. Instead I would want to insist that housing benefit + top up is paid directly to me as the landlord, in the way in which housing benefit once was. If this could not be agreed to, then no deal. There is more demand than supply. so why take risks?
Member Since March 2018 - Comments: 74
5:05 PM, 14th October 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Steve O’Dell at 14/10/2024 – 16:58
Totally agree, why on earth would I help someone who has gone out of their way to cause me trouble and cost me money.
Two words for Councils on this, “Sit” and “Swivel”.
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 584
12:03 AM, 20th October 2024, About 2 years ago
My portfolio is in MK. They been offering incentives for years. They offer RIA and Deposits up front . They sometimes offer DHP to top up. And if their tenancy is vulnerable they will pay 50% to 100% off the arrears for me to keep them in the PRS as they are overwhelmed with the homeless and haven’t enough TA in the city to house them. Its often far more cost effective to pay me as it costs them / taxpayers a fortune to ship them out to towns 20 – 50 miles away. Over the last 25 years they must have paid me about 50K to keep me sweet.
Member Since June 2014 - Comments: 1564
8:21 AM, 20th October 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Jonathan Clarke at 20/10/2024 – 00:03
“My portfolio is in MK.
Over the last 25 years they must have paid me about 50K to keep me sweet.”
Assistant housing bods at MK get paid that in one year (with a pension and without the hassle)
https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/your-council-and-elections/council-information-and-accounts/data-performance-and-spending/senior
The Transparency Code 2015 requires that role responsibilities for all employees whose salary exceeds £50,000 are made available.