Landlords for homelessness charity to compete with Shelter and Crisis?

Landlords for homelessness charity to compete with Shelter and Crisis?

12:11 PM, 12th December 2022, About A year ago 105

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Well, that got your attention didn’t it!

But is it such a crazy idea? What if landlords got together and started a charity that helped the same people that Shelter and Crisis claim to. Fundraise the same way, from the public.

But a charity that underwrites rent and deposits for those that we wouldn’t normally consider. Those that have ended up on the street through no fault of their own, the ex-service person, the unemployed, the homeless with nobody to turn to.

Help those already in our properties that hit hard times, help them get the financial support they need, so they can pay us.

But instead of being aggressive towards landlords, working with them, covering the shortfalls until benefits kick in. Having advisors on hand to solve and push through their benefit claims issues.

Go on, discuss!

Kevin


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Comments

TheMaluka

13:27 PM, 22nd December 2022, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Tom McGrath at 22/12/2022 - 12:32Whilst I agree I will not now take homeless people without a guarantor, perhaps Shelter would like to fulfil that role?

Robert M

13:58 PM, 22nd December 2022, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by TheMaluka at 22/12/2022 - 13:27
Much to my astonishment, in the past few days I have heard from a private landlord who is actually leasing their property to Shelter, and Shelter is then letting it to tenants (as a HMO I think), so maybe Shelter are at long last actually providing housing!

This would be a type of rent 2 rent agreement, but by leasing direct to Shelter, they (Shelter) are in effect acting as a rent and damage guarantor, as they will be responsible for paying the rent to the owner landlord, and for any damage to the property done by their sub-tenants.

Perhaps you may wish to offer your properties to Shelter to lease from you, and see what their offer is?

Luke P

14:21 PM, 22nd December 2022, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Robert M at 22/12/2022 - 13:58
Are you able to get anymore info, Robert? How did the relationship come about...who contacted who first and why, I wonder, are Shelter helping some people but not others in this way? I mean it's great for those individuals, but I'd always assumed the reason they'd give (for not helping) is because they can't help everyone (perverse though that logic is).

Robert M

14:47 PM, 22nd December 2022, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Luke P at 22/12/2022 - 14:21
I don't know who contacted who first, but from what I could gather, there is a property owner, they lease to a property sourcer (the person I spoke to), who then leases to Shelter AND also involves a separate property manager (for arranging the repairs etc), and Shelter then let the rooms to the individual tenants/occupiers.

In effect there are two rent 2 rent operators in the equation, i.e. the property sourcer and Shelter.
This would mean that there's actually five parties involved in the letting:
property owner - sourcer - Shelter - property management agent - end tenant occupiers.
I am advised that Shelter provide support and tenancy management to their end tenants/occupiers.

I asked several times if it was definitely a lease to Shelter, not simply Shelter nominating people to the property, and I was assured several times that it was definitely a lease and that Shelter pay the rent to the sourcer.

This is the first time I have ever heard of Shelter actually housing anyone, and taking on the responsibility of being a landlord. It will be interesting to see how this develops and whether Shelter will expand their rent to rent scheme.

- I hope that Shelter continue this R2R scheme, as it may provide private landlords with a better leasing option than the onerous Serco contracts, while also enabling Shelter to house and support the more vulnerable or high risk tenants who struggle to obtain (or have been evicted from) private rented housing.

Helen

15:41 PM, 22nd December 2022, About A year ago

This sounds like a complicated arrangement. I am wondering what would happen if Shelter needs to evict the tenants due to non payment of rent/anti social behaviour etc? Will they give their usual advice which is to stay for as long and possible and to allow the landlord (ie themselves) to be considerably out of pocket after the long wait for a court hearing? The boot is on the other foot here and it might make Shelter a bit more sympathetic to what we have to put up with.

Robert M

15:46 PM, 22nd December 2022, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Helen at 22/12/2022 - 15:41
Yes, my thoughts exactly, particularly when there's multiple parties involved, plenty of scope for buck passing!!!

Bill Maynard

13:14 PM, 30th December 2022, About A year ago

OR If you already have a local charity working with homeless people and the statutory organisations, help them to grow. In our town we have this: chatmid.org. They also run a food bank.

Christina Carter

6:16 AM, 5th January 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by David Griffith at 13/12/2022 - 10:04
This is such a wonderful idea.
Inclusion of human beings, being given the opportunity to turn their lives round, and as i`m sure you are all well aware, no one will give you a job unless you have an address....not what the Government are familiar with, so I agree to keep them out.
We could look at forming a `Housing Forum`, legitimately as a Charity, (charities do not pay taxes and I`m sure Government even donate 25% !!!
We could make it as easy or as complex as we want it to be.
Suggestions for Agenda, nominating a team of interested persons, skills and roles.
Would need to involve someone with a good head/understanding for policies and procedures.. .`A way forward` 2023 here we come.

Sue Bird

9:22 AM, 5th January 2023, About A year ago

Dear all, for those who have not let me know already, please could you tell me whether you want to join a Zoom call to discuss landlords helping the homeless. I am still trying to set this call up. Thanks, Sue

Robert M

10:50 AM, 5th January 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Sue Bird at 05/01/2023 - 09:22
Thanks Sue, I'll be on the Zoom call with you on Monday.

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