Council offers to ‘top-up’ rent to bring homeless numbers down

Council offers to ‘top-up’ rent to bring homeless numbers down

0:02 AM, 14th October 2024, About An hour ago

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A council is trying to address its housing crisis by offering cash incentives to landlords to make private renting more affordable for families currently living in temporary accommodation.

The city council has been struggling to meet the increasing demand for council housing, with more than 1,000 households currently relying on temporary accommodation.

Many of these families have found it difficult to secure private rented homes due to high rents.

Now Milton Keynes City says it will consider paying the difference between the rent a landlord is asking and what a prospective tenant can afford.

‘Private rents are unaffordable for many people’

The council’s cabinet member for housing, Coun Ed Hume, said: “Everyone has the right to a decent, safe and secure home.

“We know that private rents are unaffordable for many people and this new initiative aims to bridge that gap.”

He added: “Landlords who want the assurance that a market rent will be guaranteed for the life of a tenancy should get in touch with us if they are able to help.”

Help more families find stable homes

The council believes that its new scheme will not only help more families find stable homes but also save the council money in the long run.

That’s because the topping-up scheme will be cheaper than maintaining temporary accommodation.

In addition, the city council already provides landlords with cash incentives of up to £6,680 for offering long-term rental agreements and guaranteed rent for the term of a tenancy.

These initiatives have helped prevent homelessness for several families in the past year.

Landlords interested in learning more about these incentives are encouraged to visit the city council’s website.


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