Homeless charity to become a landlord to combat homelessness

Homeless charity Crisis plans to become a landlord to tackle Britain’s housing crisis.

The charity says it will begin buying one-bedroom homes in London and Newcastle, with plans to purchase more than 1,000 properties over the next decade.

The announcement comes after Crisis revealed that 300,000 families and individuals across England are experiencing the most severe forms of homelessness, including sleeping rough and living in temporary accommodation.

Start the journey to becoming a not-for-profit landlord

Matt Downie, chief executive of Crisis, explains the reasons why Crisis is becoming a landlord.

He said: “From 2026 onwards, we will, for the first time in our nearly 60-year history, start the journey to becoming a not-for-profit landlord. We’ll begin by buying one-bedroom homes in London and Newcastle to house people experiencing homelessness who are accessing our services. Our ambition is that over the next three years, we will purchase 100 homes, increasing to at least 1000 homes over the next decade.

“The reason behind this is simple and clear, you can’t end homelessness without homes. Over the years, our frontline services have been finding it harder and harder to find genuinely affordable, settled homes for the people we support, leaving them trapped in a cycle of homelessness.

“The reasons for this are complex and have been years in the making. Decades of policy choices and cuts to funding for welfare, social housing delivery and local authorities has led to a scarcity of homes for people on the lowest incomes.”

In a press release, Crisis explains that it has established a limited company and will be supported by a targeted fundraising appeal, which is currently in the planning stages.

We’ve worked productively with landlords for years

He adds: “The huge demand for social housing means housing associations are having to make increasingly difficult decisions about who they allocate homes to. For the people we support this can mean years on a waiting list, or not even qualifying for the waiting list in the first place.

“At the same time, rapidly rising rents are leaving people on low incomes locked out of the private rented sector. This is exacerbated by the freeze on housing benefit, which is driving up homelessness and making it harder for landlords to rent to people on low incomes, many of whom are struggling to cover significant shortfalls in rent.

“At Crisis, we’ve worked productively with landlords for years and have found thousands of good homes for people experiencing homelessness in the private rented sector. However, conditions in the housing market have become so challenging and, with demand for our services on the rise, we need to find a greater supply of genuinely affordable homes.

Work directly with landlords and letting agents

The news comes after a three-year deal between charity Crisis and the TDS Charitable Foundation.

With funding from the TDS Charitable Foundation, Crisis has deployed five Housing Access Specialists across Merseyside, Newcastle, Oxford, Birmingham and South Wales.

These experts work directly with landlords and letting agents and help tenants receive the right help to settle into and sustain their new homes.

That includes assistance to claim benefits to accessing wellbeing support.

Responsible landlords: what this means for the sector

Crisis’s move into direct property ownership signals a wider shift in how homelessness support may evolve over the coming decade. For responsible landlords, the development underscores the continuing need to balance fair returns with the broader social value that well-managed tenancies can deliver. The charitable sector is stepping in where supply and affordability gaps have become most acute, but there remains significant scope for private landlords to participate constructively.

What this means for you

Expect closer collaboration opportunities with local charities and housing access specialists seeking reliable private landlords.

Be aware that future funding initiatives may prioritise landlords who demonstrate robust management standards and ethical letting practices.

Anticipate greater scrutiny on rent levels, property standards and tenant support mechanisms, especially for low-income tenants.

Practical steps to take now

Review your tenancy policies to ensure they are consistent, fair and transparent, particularly on affordability assessments and arrears management.

Maintain clear records of communications, property conditions and tenancy support measures to demonstrate professional standards.

Engage with local housing partnerships or councils to understand emerging schemes that could offer guaranteed rent, deposit cover or tenant support.

Consider how your property portfolio could align with social housing or charitable letting programmes without compromising financial resilience.

Keep mortgage lenders and insurers informed if you are considering new tenancy types or partnerships with non-profit organisations.

Good practice that reduces stress

Landlords who keep accurate documentation, communicate clearly, and align with reputable partners tend to face fewer disputes and maintain steadier returns. Upholding high standards of professionalism allows you to contribute to housing stability while protecting your own position with confidence and clarity.