A council gives private landlords up to £4,250 as what it calls a “landlord welcome” for joining a scheme to help it solve its homelessness problem.
Dorset Council has operated a scheme called Key4Me since last November, and says it’s just hit the milestone of 100 households being re-housed into the private sector.
The incentive initiative involves council officers supporting landlords to house tenants rather than them using letting agents that often charge significant management fees. It claims to be saving landlords up to 15% of rental costs.
A range of flats and one- to five-bed houses have been let through the scheme, which helps people out of temporary accommodation or if they are at risk of homelessness.
A council spokesperson says: “We are turning the market on its head and proving that there are successful alternatives to expensive agencies or sourcing your own tenants.
“Housing is one of the four priorities for this council. 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.”
The council adds: “A Landlord Welcome of up to £4250 is payable in stages throughout the tenancy to thank them for working with us.”
In addition, the scheme includes help for the tenant with rent in advance; help with a Deposit Bond up to a maximum of 12 weeks’ worth of rent and/or help with a Rent Deposit (up to a maximum of five weeks’ worth of rent; a Pet Bond up to a maximum of £400; free landlord compliancy check; and the provision of a free tenancy agreement and inventory.
Participating landlords are also give a free year’s membership of the South West Landlords Association.
This article is taken from Landlord Today