Landlords help council scheme achieve homeless milestone

Landlords helping a council initiative to house homeless people have achieved a major milestone with 100 households being placed in PRS homes.

Dorset Council’s Key4Me initiative was launched last November with the aim of combating homelessness by directly supporting landlords.

The move bypassed letting agents and helped reduce rent expenses by up to 15%.

The scheme offers a range of properties, from flats to houses with one to five bedrooms, enabling families and individuals to move out of temporary accommodation or avoid homelessness.

Everyone wins

The council’s cabinet member for housing, health and community safety, Councillor Gill Taylor, said: “We are turning the market on its head and proving that there are successful alternatives to expensive agencies or sourcing your own tenants.

“Our collaboration with landlords means that we are helping more and more households to access the private sector on affordable terms as well as saving landlords hundreds of pounds in fees in the process, so everyone wins.”

Landlords participating in the scheme benefit from a comprehensive support package, including a ‘Landlord Welcome’ payment of up to £4,250, disbursed in stages throughout the tenancy.

Perks for landlords

Other perks for attracting landlords in the county include assistance with rent in advance, deposit bonds covering up to 12 weeks’ rent and rent deposits for up to five weeks.

The council also offers a pet bond of up to £400.

The initiative also provides free landlord compliance checks, tenancy agreements, inventories and a year’s membership with the South West Landlords Association.

Dedicated tenancy sustainment officers are on hand to address any concerns, ensuring smooth tenancies for both landlords and tenants.

For more information on the Key4Me scheme, visit Dorset Council’s website.