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 October 2023 - Comments: 201
6:53 PM, 12th April 2024, About 2 years ago
Maybe they should offer to buy out landlords that want to quit. Then they can show us what great landlords THEY are.
Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1630 - Articles: 3
7:04 PM, 12th April 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by David100 at 12/04/2024 – 18:53If they want to buy mine in Wakefield, they can have it!
Member Since November 2016 - Comments: 227
7:04 PM, 12th April 2024, About 2 years ago
Same council who will hit landlords with a ‘civil penalty charge’ ie prove yourself innocent, and tell tenants ‘No need to pay, wait for the bailiffs’.
Member Since October 2019 - Comments: 391
7:19 PM, 12th April 2024, About 2 years ago
Passing the cost/loss on to the price sector – nothing new there!
Member Since February 2018 - Comments: 627
8:11 PM, 12th April 2024, About 2 years ago
‘“We can offer support for landlords to help house households who are homeless or threatened with homelessness”
Could they help landlords with covid non rent payers, or covid voids or any other covid related cost, my Council took the ACTIVE decision to exclude residential landlords from any assistance.
Member Since July 2013 - Comments: 193
10:05 PM, 12th April 2024, About 2 years ago
April Fools was nearly 2 weeks ago.
Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 1575
10:37 PM, 12th April 2024, About 2 years ago
How about Councils buy all of the PRS properties.
Then, former landlords (who understand property) could police the newly creates housing sector through some kind of licensing scheme. They could even set up a new charity to advise tenants.
Member Since May 2021 - Comments: 389
10:56 PM, 12th April 2024, About 2 years ago
Reap what you sow and do one !
Member Since February 2021 - Comments: 106
11:07 PM, 12th April 2024, About 2 years ago
I’ve actually msgd this guy on FB messenger – my es read my msg.
He’s not responded. Not sure if he will as I was ( naturally) a bit disparaging of his requests to the PRS.
I basically told him he was totally clueless.
Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 26
8:23 AM, 13th April 2024, About 2 years ago
are they serious is has taken me over 2 years to get a property back from barking & dagenham council when the lease expired but because they have nowhere to put the tenant i have to suffer and go to court to get them evicted. the house was trashed – tenant owes everywhere to the council and rent thousands and is then re-housed in a new 4 bed house. all written off. and off on the roundabout again – no accountability or responsibility – the arrears are shortfall – council tax minimal but still in arrears – and so it will continue at the expense of the tax payer. council condone it as they do not want to evict children so it will continue. – DO NOT LET TO
COUNCILS – HAVERING COUNCIL,IS THE SAME LANDLORD WAITING YEARS TO GET THEIR PROPRTY BACK
LH