Gravesham Borough Council launches social lettings agency to find homes for households in temporary accommodation.
Gravesham Borough Council has launched its own social lettings agency to work together with the borough’s private sector landlords in tackling the record numbers of local families living in temporary accommodation.
High interest rates and the cost-of-living crisis are key factors leading to record numbers of families and individuals approaching the council for support, leaving it with more than 200 households in expensive temporary accommodation.
GBC Lettings is one part of the council’s response to the issue and will work with private sector landlords in Gravesham to find homes for those who need them.
Launching the agency, Cllr Jenny Wallace, Gravesham Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing Services, said: “Temporary accommodation should be just that, a few brief nights’ stay in an emergency before moving on to something more permanent.
“But demand for social housing has soared in recent months as families struggle to make ends meet and has resulted in too many households spending too long in this sort of property.
“And it is expensive. We are looking at a bill of over £1 million for temporary accommodation in the current financial year, against a budget originally set for less than half of that. It’s an unsustainable position and one we are having to be innovative and creative at tackling.”
GBC Lettings is looking to sign up private sector landlords who will take households directly from temporary accommodation.
In return, the council is offering a fully managed service including:
- Guaranteed payment of rent on the first of each month;
- Support through the process of turning properties around between tenants;
- Guaranteed tenant within two weeks of a property being ready to let;
- A minimum of four visits a year from council officers to check on properties;
- A designated council officer for support and advice;
- Support in understanding and complying with the ever-changing regulations landlords are bound by.
Cllr Wallace added: “Essentially, we are looking to make it as easy and straightforward as possible for landlords to provide a more permanent home for some of the families we are currently supporting in temporary accommodation.
“As a landlord, we already have 5,700 social housing properties that we manage and maintain on a daily basis. We are offering to bring that expertise to support our landlords, while guaranteeing them rental income.
“I hope many of our borough’s private landlords see the benefits of working with us for themselves, but most importantly for the well-being of so many local families in need of support.”