Council to revamp its landlord incentive scheme to help Ukrainian refugees
2 years ago | 8 comments
Council urges private landlords to help ease housing crisis
12:02 AM, 12th April 2024, 2 years ago
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A council is appealing to private landlords to help a growing number of residents in need of housing assistance because its homeless bill is ‘no longer financially sustainable’.
It says there are several reasons for the rise in demand, including flooding, the cost-of-living crisis, and the recent end of Ukrainian host placements.
This surge in demand has strained their resources, with temporary accommodation like B&Bs proving expensive and unsettling for families.
Landlords, both experienced and first-time, are encouraged to contact Shropshire Council to discuss property suitability and receive assistance with paperwork.
‘We’re appealing to private sector landlords’
The council’s cabinet member for housing and assets, Cllr Dean Carroll, said: “Facing homelessness is a worrying experience for anyone, so we’re appealing to private sector landlords so we can continue to offer vital housing support to those most vulnerable.
“We can offer support for landlords to help house households who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.
“Currently, all types of accommodation are needed.”
He added: “You could be an experienced landlord with a portfolio of properties and just looking for tenants, in which case, we can offer a tenant matching service where we will interview and assess all tenants before they approach you. “Or you may be a first-time landlord, and benefit from extra support our team can give with setting up the tenancy and handling all the paperwork.”
Around 100 people in B&B accommodation
The council says that there are around 100 people in B&B accommodation currently which is costing £6,125 per night.
That means the council is spending around £190,000 per month, or £2.3 million every year.
Shropshire Council highlights that it is facing ‘unprecedented financial challenges’ and keeping people in this type of accommodation is ‘no longer financially sustainable’.
The council also says that the accommodation doesn’t ‘achieve best outcomes for the individual’.
Consequently, it wants to avoid using temporary accommodation and wants ‘settled accommodation with private sector landlords’.
Financial incentives and extensive support to landlords
The council is offering financial incentives and extensive support to landlords willing to participate, and the package includes:
- Financial help to pay towards deposits and rent in advance – paid to landlords directly
- Tenants support and advice to help ensure that tenancies are sustainable
- Providing specialist advice on tenancy matters and changes in the law
- Help to resolve disputes if they arise
- Providing a named point of contact from the start.
Tags:
Cost of Living Crisis, homelessness, housing assistance, Housing Solutions for Homeless Crisis, Landlord Assistance in Shropshire, Private Landlord Incentives UK, Private Landlords, Shropshire Council, Shropshire Council Housing Crisis Support
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Member Since March 2024 - Comments: 14
10:45 AM, 12th April 2024, About 2 years ago
Councils can’t balance their books as a lack of funding has caused a shortage of Council Houses. Even if they did build more, what about:
1. the cost of funding the build,
2. the fitting out,
3. interest charges,
4. repair costs,
5. the losses due to unpaid rents
6. the cost of administration,
7. etc., etc., etc.,
They will be building houses to lose money and that is why they want private landlords to bear more of the burden, supported by delays with evictions, even when tenants owe thousands in unpaid rents and then get away scot free after destroying a landlords property and sometimes ruining the landlord’s life.
The shortage of housing, let alone affordable housing, is a problem that can only be solved by Government & Councils until private landlords are given encouragement and assistance. How about reintroducing roll over relief if you sell a BTL and replace it with another BTL, no unfair full or double council tax charges while a BTL is renovated or empty dilapidated properties returned to the housing stock, no additional second home land tax for BTL long term let properties?
Some landlords have funds to invest but are seriously discouraged by the present regime. Some of us want to help out but not as things stand atm.
Landlords can be key to the solution but we need to be loved, a bit more, by all parties.
Member Since May 2017 - Comments: 763
11:37 AM, 12th April 2024, About 2 years ago
I suggest they try Shelter No One. They have £60,000,000 to spend
Member Since March 2017 - Comments: 11
12:32 PM, 12th April 2024, About 2 years ago
I guess that’s a no then
Member Since April 2023 - Comments: 8
2:46 PM, 12th April 2024, About 2 years ago
As landlords the govt dont deal with us in an even handed or indeed fair way. They have led the public to believe that we all are making fortunes for rents. Councils have no funds to house not only our own population but also the endless tide of migrants being given safe haven and handouts. I would rather leave my property empty and have to suffer the council tax payments than do anything to help. Maybe they should ask Angela Rayner she knows all about playing the system
Member Since May 2015 - Comments: 2190 - Articles: 2
3:05 PM, 12th April 2024, About 2 years ago
From now to the end of the universe I will never take a tenant recommended by any council no matter what the financial incentives.
Member Since February 2021 - Comments: 106
3:24 PM, 12th April 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by TheMaluka at 12/04/2024 – 15:05
Yep
Been there been stung badly
My mantra is
The less I have to do with councils the better.
Member Since March 2017 - Comments: 11
3:42 PM, 12th April 2024, About 2 years ago
Play nice now
Member Since September 2023 - Comments: 335
5:38 PM, 12th April 2024, About 2 years ago
Let’s get a few facts right here, councils have a descreshinary right not to charge council tax on a empty property but choose to charge full council tax on empty properties , they charge for licences, they treat private landlords with distain now they want the prs to help.
Member Since May 2015 - Comments: 2190 - Articles: 2
5:57 PM, 12th April 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Michael Booth at 12/04/2024 – 17:38
I find this smugly amusing.
Member Since February 2023 - Comments: 21
6:34 PM, 12th April 2024, About 2 years ago
Unbelievable statement, obviously the councils are going to rescind all the licensing, EPC right to rent and all the other worthlessness bureaucracy being put in place, I don’t think so councils speak with fork tongue, so I’m selling up, take the capital gains hit, and put the money elsewhere!