Council to lease homes from private sector, then let to social tenants

The New Forest district council in Hampshire is appealling to letting agents and private tenants to sign up to its Private Sector Lease Scheme.

The scheme involves the council renting properties from private landlords and then renting them to people in need of accommodation.  

The council says this means the landlords get a fixed term lease, guaranteed monthly rental income for the whole of the lease period - even if the property is void for some of the time - plus no management fee for letting their property and what the council pledges to be “hassle free property management.”

The owner or agent has guaranteed vacant possession of the property in a good state of repair and decoration at the end of the lease.  

"Housing is very much in demand and that is why one of the ways we assist households is to secure private sector properties. We are looking to increase these properties and would like to ask anyone who owns a property to consider joining the private sector leasing scheme” explains a council spokeswoman. 

“We will look at all properties - flats, houses, bungalows - from one bed through to four and five beds: this will be dependent on need. Generally our greatest need is two and three bed properties but we are happy to look at all viable options” she adds.

“Properties that are part of the scheme have to meet a strict checklist to show they are habitable and of a good quality and the leases offered to landlords are up to three years.”

There are currently 110 private properties being rented in this way by the council.