Council urges private landlords to help ease housing crisis

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.