Government hints at forcing social housing landlords to house homeless households
4 weeks ago | 13 comments
Crisis to buy homes in bid to become not-for-profit landlord
10:01 AM, 20th April 2026, 4 weeks ago
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A homeless charity has partnered with a bank to begin purchasing its own properties as it aims to become a not-for-profit landlord.
Crisis plans to buy its first homes by summer 2026, with a target of acquiring at least 100 properties across London and Newcastle over the next three years.
Working alongside Lloyds Banking Group, the charity warns that without further action, the housing crisis is likely to deepen.
Offer secure and affordable homes
Matt Downie, chief executive at Crisis, said: “With the support of Lloyds Banking Group, we can now kick-start our plans to become a not-for-profit landlord in the next few months.
“What this means is that we’ll be able to start to offer some of the people we support, people experiencing the very worst forms of homelessness, genuinely affordable, secure homes so that they can rebuild their lives.”
He adds: “While this intervention is only part of the picture, and more needs to be done by the UK government to deliver social housing at scale, with the ongoing support of Lloyds Banking Group and the passion and commitment of their staff, we can start to make this important shift and put homes firmly at the heart of the solution to end homelessness.
“We’re delighted to be renewing our successful partnership with Lloyds Banking Group. At a time when homelessness has reached unprecedented levels, partnerships like this enable us to innovate and do things differently to better meet the challenges we face.”
End homelessness with homes
Charlie Nunn, group chief executive officer at Lloyds Banking Group, said: “We’re so proud to support Crisis’ landmark intervention to end homelessness with homes, by making it possible for the charity to acquire and manage housing for the very first time.
“This level of ambition and imagination is an inspiration. We need more of it, with strong collaboration, across the public, business and charity sectors. And it is in everyone’s interest to help initiatives like these to succeed.
The bank has also helped fund the launch of Crisis’s Good Place Lettings, which aims to tackle housing inequality by “bringing more social purpose to the private rental market.”
The news comes as more social homes are being sold or demolished than are being built.
Data by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government reveals in England, 16,291 social homes were either sold or demolished last year, yet just 10,807 social homes were built.
Tags:
crisis, Good Place Lettings, homelessness, Lloyds Banking Group, not-for-profit landlord, social housing
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Member Since August 2025 - Comments: 2
5:12 PM, 20th April 2026, About 4 weeks ago
Really positive move. Will be interesting to see what sort of property they buy – suspect new build as that avoids EPC challenges in a few years time. But even non profits need to make enough to cover annual gas certs, electric certs, EPC certs ..and of course licencing fees. All whilst dealing with voids and any non paying tenants. Add in repairs, white goods replacements…be interesting to see how low the rents actually are.
If Crisis can make it work, then great, but if it is subsided by charitable fundraising then that isn’t a fair comparison with PRS.
Member Since September 2022 - Comments: 193
7:09 PM, 20th April 2026, About 4 weeks ago
Lloyds banking group anounced some time ago that they wanted to Invest in housing and the Rental market for regular Income and long term capital investment.
However like many other Corporate Ideas I think it’s doomed to failure with far too many staff and running costs involved in Setting up and running a business
So Crisis are not building one New home in London or Newcastle but buying up older properties which will cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to upgrade to modern standards and EPC band A 🤔
Member Since October 2023 - Comments: 209
8:44 AM, 21st April 2026, About 4 weeks ago
Where’s the popcorn, this will be fun to watch. How long before they reach full enlightenment?
Member Since July 2023 - Comments: 184
5:58 PM, 22nd April 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by David Dean at 20/04/2026 – 10:12
My thoughts exactly.
Member Since May 2024 - Comments: 128
2:33 AM, 23rd April 2026, About 3 weeks ago
I think most of us are starting to feel like non profit organisations….
Member Since October 2018 - Comments: 15
5:21 PM, 23rd April 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by David Dean at 20/04/2026 – 10:12
I don’t know if anybody else saw this, Sean Hughes left £4 Million Property To Shelter; House and 2x flats.
I’m waiting to find out what they do with these properties? House people in the properties they now own? Or issue sec21 to any tenants and sell them?
Member Since October 2024 - Comments: 10
5:48 PM, 23rd April 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by markyboy at 23/04/2026 – 17:21
I bet they want the cash but realise the bad press of a section 21 would not be good. I suspect the rents will go up forcing the tenants out and then they will be sold, or they will be sold with tenants in place. I can’t see shelter wanting to be a landlord 🤣
Unless Sean Hughes left them in trust saying they had to manage them and would have the income from them. That would be funny 🤣.
Member Since May 2024 - Comments: 128
6:25 PM, 23rd April 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by markyboy at 23/04/2026 – 17:21
Probably be ‘renting’ them out to their own staff.. It’s always different when you’re dealing with your own resources.
Member Since November 2019 - Comments: 160
11:38 AM, 25th April 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Not for Profit does not mean Not for Renumeration .
They could and probably will be paying themselves a load of Wonga .
If Lloyds Bank is so keen to help House People why did they Put their Standard Variable Rate up to over 8.5% when Private Landlords came off their fixed Rate deals .
Member Since January 2016 - Comments: 299 - Articles: 1
11:41 AM, 25th April 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Reply to the comment left by Northernpleb at 25/04/2026 – 11:38
eight point five percent is why they are keen to “HELP” landlords!