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 2023 - Comments: 1506
8:30 AM, 13th April 2024, About 2 years ago
I met a landlord for the first time yesterday who works for Erewash Council. Even though the landlord works for EBC I was advised NEVER to even consider letting to a council as they are only interested in saving money, and once they have put someone in your property that’s the end of their responsibility. The services are disjointed and often conflict with each other, and in fact compete with each other for the same resource.
Member Since February 2021 - Comments: 106
8:31 AM, 13th April 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 13/04/2024 – 08:30
Yeah that’s about right
Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 26
8:34 AM, 13th April 2024, About 2 years ago
never rent to a council barking & dagenham and havering council – took me 2 years to get the property back only when i issued court proceedings did they bother to find them a new house after they trashed mine – tenants – the end of the lease date should mean the tenants go not waiting for bailiffs to remove them. never let to councils whatever they offer you will regret it.
Member Since October 2021 - Comments: 62
10:38 AM, 13th April 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by PETER harvey at 13/04/2024 – 08:34once in they wash their hands of you,
I tried it…. and got completely shafted with a 3 year tenancy.
3 years of hell and tens of thousands lost, unpaid rent, destroyed property I had to pay them to leave. The tenants simply saw/was advised to take anything, PRS is a stepping stone to getting social housing.
I’d rather leave the property empty.
Member Since April 2024 - Comments: 2
5:21 PM, 13th April 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by SteveFowkes at 12/04/2024 – 15:24
I too was convinced to take one and I too got shafted!
I had to fight the Council for a bond which never fully covered my costs, leaving me with considerable losses and stress.
The state of the place that she left it in -quite unbelievable! She even claimed victimhood. Thankfully Sect: 21 saved other residents and me from misery. Right now, it must be terrible for those living in the same block as her.
And they wonder why people are leaving the PRS!
Member Since July 2023 - Comments: 95
5:29 PM, 14th April 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Cider Drinker at 12/04/2024 – 09:18Fantastic
Even those that knit need to count the loops and how many to drop!!!
Member Since December 2022 - Comments: 82
5:16 PM, 16th April 2024, About 2 years ago
I cannot resist adding my comment which is that the Council officers and elected councillors who are appealing for help from private landlords must be utterly stupid, for all the reasons given by others. I know that Stockholm Syndrome* is a thing but I don’t suffer from it. So far as I am concerned the government, both national and local, can follow the instruction which Elon Musk gave to the CEO of Disney recently.
*Stockholm syndrome is a psychological response that causes survivors of abuse to sympathize with their abuser
Member Since February 2023 - Comments: 40
9:05 AM, 19th April 2024, About 2 years ago
I know of a few friends who used simple schemes. The tenants that the council put in were the worse of the worse. They all had history of problem behaviour,been previously evicted and when they eventually left the house was in a shambles. Stay clear of these council schemes
Member Since April 2023 - Comments: 8
9:16 AM, 19th April 2024, About 2 years ago
As mentioned elsewhere if the council want to buy my 2 x BTL properties as market value to save them paying for B and Bs then I would happily accept. Oh hang on they dont have any money and are in financial dire straights because they couldnt manage the proverbial drink in a brewery. I would not enter into ANY agreement on any level
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3511 - Articles: 5
11:26 AM, 19th April 2024, About 2 years ago
URGES!
How about ASKS/REQUESTS/PLEADS??? We are private provider. We choose to let, its not legally mandated!