Landlords for homelessness charity to compete with Shelter and Crisis?

Shelter and Crisis should not be compared. They are totally different, like wolves and sheep. Shelter is an anti landlord political organisation that encourages rogue tenants to bend the law and wastes money on absurd legal cases. Crisis is a compassionate charity that recognises when homeless people are in need of social and mental care and works directly with them on the street, and fairly with landlords to get them the right help to get on track. Closer links between landlord organisations and Crisis would be a good thing.

Note that the NRLA is now in partnership with Crisis - see this week's newsletter. My God! They're actually doing something!

Reply to the comment left by Martin Thomas at 18/12/2022 - 11:35
I think any positive publicity is much needed and there will be some landlords, with certain properties, that might be suited.

Reply to the comment left by Jennifer Brudenell at 18/12/2022 - 09:12
How do you overcome the guarantee element for arrears/damages?

Reply to the comment left by Luke P at 19/12/2022 - 02:09
Not everyone that is hard up will cause damage or run up debts. There are plenty of decent people out there that that simply cannot cope with the relentless cost of living challenges.

Reply to the comment left by Susan Bradley at 19/12/2022 - 09:33
Susan, I have enormous experience being the second largest provider of private rented sector properties to benefit recipients.

The purpose of the letting agency I was commenting on is for "...landlords who are willing to rent their properties to tenants who don't meet the criteria of a standard lettings agency..." Affordability aside, what, specifically, is making these people ordinarily unsuitable? If they're unsuitable under 'normal' circumstances, that means by definition they're a greater risk, hence my question.

However, bringing money back into matter, without it, arrears (something else I mentioned) are inevitable, as too are damages...even if not malicious. If the building is not heated to a minimum level, you will damage create maintenance issues through things like mould. I have had numerous tenants that either won't vacuum or don't own a vacuum (not of any quality to speak of) that make a brand new carpet look 20 years old in less than six months.

Reply to the comment left by Luke P at 19/12/2022 - 10:49
Yes Luke, I was thinking same. Brave to set these speciality Letting Agents up. I've seen many try & help & do their bit within their agency & think We can get loads more tenants this way. Alas a year later, they stop doing it as they find Benefit tenants are much more work & chasing their money & doing 10 times more what you'd have to do for 'posh' Letting Agent tenant.
I know too before anyone else slates me down as I'm biggest Benefit Landlord in Nottingham, loved Benefit tenants all my life, my current lot many been with me over 20 years are brilliant, albeit they gonna' be paying 70% of market rents. And alas, on stuff I'm not selling if/when ever comes empty, I choose the 'posh' letting Agent tenant now & the workload & phone calls are MUCH less.

These were all Benefit tenants:

https://youtu.be/i_HKaqYlHi4 Tenants from Hell Bulwell.

https://youtu.be/OzqVVRlZzE8 Tenants from Hell Bestwood Park

https://youtu.be/QcENHbgfMR4 Tenants from Hell Top Valley Nov 2010

https://youtu.be/_UvO8dmxGQQ Tenants from Hell May 12th 2010.

https://youtu.be/DzRIyfLHRn0 Tenants from Hell May 10th 2010.

The rest are on http://www.youtube.com/mickroberts2006
I han't done any for years.

Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 19/12/2022 - 11:03
Well Susan...that's Mick (Nottingham's biggest private provider to benefit tenants) also now chiming in with similar concerns. As a 6-year veteran of Humberside Police, I can also tell you that poverty very very often goes hand-in-hand with a whole raft of other problems...problems highly likely to become expensive for someone. And without any consequential ties in place, everyone will just walk away from the LL and leave them picking up the bill.

It would appear you believe in a utopia no reflective of the actual real world. I'm wondering which southern county you hail from...

Reply to the comment left by Luke P at 19/12/2022 - 11:45
Sad to say that even in the deepest South of the country we still have problems with benefit tenants, some 50% are nightmare tenants and nearly all are well behind with their rent. In desperation I now only take top quality tenants who are vetted from the tips of their toes to the top hair on their head.

If anyone cares to act as guarantor for a benefit tenant for rent, council tax, utilities and damage without financial limit for the duration of the tenancy and the void period when repairs are needed, then I will again take benefit tenants. As long as the landlord is effectively the guarantor then I regret that I am no longer prepared to take the risk.

Reply to the comment left by Sue Bird at 17/12/2022 - 07:59
If the landlords are serious about doing this, then at some point someone would need to start to put together a meeting, perhaps by hosting a Zoom call, and formulating a set of aims and objectives etc to take forward. It is very brave to put yourself forward for starting this. I'd be happy to be involved in an advisory capacity if that was wanted.