3 landlords sign up to council's lettings scheme

Published by 24publishing for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities, Finance, Local Government

A council has already seen three landlords sign up to its new service for helping families into accommodation.

Ashford Borough Council's ABC Lettings has been designed to help landlords offer properties for rent to households identified as being on local housing allowance levels.

The council currently has 1,568 families on its housing register. Through ABC lettings, the council conducts the background checks and then brokers tenancy agreements.

The council then pays the landlord a guaranteed rent each month for the term of the tenancy at the local housing allowance rate less its fee. It is paid monthly in advance.

Cliff Johnson was one of the first landlords to sign up to the scheme. He said: “ABC Lettings appealed to me as it is a hassle-free option. It enables me to be a landlord but at arms length. Landlords can be reassured that things will be managed for them, freeing their time up, particularly if they live outside of the borough."

The scheme has been devised to help mitigate against the increased risk of homelessness and the problem of rent arrears for landlords.

Cllr Aline Hicks, the council’s portfolio holder for housing, said: “Homelessness can affect many people, often through no fault of their own, be that through financial means or the unexpected breakdown of a relationship. In these increasingly challenging times all local authorities have to innovate to find ways to address the real issues affecting the borough. I felt confident that the scheme would be a win-win situation for the council and for landlords and I am delighted to learn that the first landlords are signing up. We will do everything we can to make it a success.”