Landlords fund-raising for the homeless

Reply to the comment left by Gillian Schifreen at 02/12/2017 - 10:07
Hi Gillian

Yes, it could be expanded to house more homeless people quite quickly, easily, and very cost effectively if Support Worker funding was available, but I only do this in Sheffield, so it would really need others to duplicate the work in other towns and cities across the country.

I am finding it difficult to square the circles here. The growing problem is vast, complex ,scarey and shameful. What is apparent is that many are posting positively and stating what a good idea this string is. It is I suppose both counterintuitive and laudable at the same time They are ideas which seem to originate from an acute recognition of how homelessness of already vulnerable people will increase on the back of section 24 and the governments’ perpetual tardiness to respond to the priority need for more housing.
The government appears to be in denial about how acute homelessness is likely to become in the short to medium term, and they are fixated with increasing owner occupiers but are failing that sector by not looking at building the needed numbers of houses until the mid. 2020’s. This is a kick in the teeth, and whenever do they actually meet their own targets? This problem will shame Britain and become chronic. The misery caused will be recorded historically and questions will be asked as to why no present day politicians seem to have learned from Charles Dickens.
They appear to have no plans for the homeless and no understanding of the contribution made by the private landlords with small to medium sized, encumbered portfolios, which they appear intent on driving out of business. I am one of these. I hate serving section 21s but have in the last 6 months served my first in 10 years. That property has been on the market for 6 months now with vacant possession. I have switched the water off, drained the water down, and installed two electric oil fired radiators for strategic use and a dehumidifier. This weekend I shovelled up autumns leaf fall into my own green bin for which I pay a fee. It will be collected. My garden is in disarray. The property is next door but one!
There have been 11 viewings but no offers as yet. There is a retirement couple interested who want to relocate to my area and are returning from France to downsize. They have expressed interest from abroad. The price is right for them as they are cash buyers looking for a quirky cottage.
The asking price is within the first time buyer budget for this rural area. Fast forwards. If they buy, my property it will not have gone to a first time buyer, but an ex-pat downsizing couple from France who wish to stash their surplus cash in the bank. Will I be happy? Will it achieve my objectives? Double yes but double no. It never was my objective. It is the government’s bizarre objective for me.
Could I have homed homeless people here for 6 months in the interim? Yes. Would that have been financially prudent for me? No. That is why it did not happen.
If we are saying that as landlords we want to assist the homeless situation as and when we can afford to do so that is one thing. It is a good thing perhaps but if we assume that role the government, buffered by our diluted effectiveness nationwide may take the view this is an issue for the charities to absorb, including ours hence we create a rod for our own backs.
If we are saying we landlords are more caring than you give us credit for. That is largely true, but only helpful if the government does what our community hopes and expects, that they target rogue landlords, remove perverse penalties from us and rather incentivise us, before we are either driven into incorporation or oblivion.
If we are saying hey we are the good guys, why can you not understand that? And if you only could, would you not consider us as something worth keeping? That has been said many times over without a flicker of acknowledgement or response.
Any gesture made now by us at this time of year, if only a mission statement would be good and worth considering. If not in the name of property 118; then why not?
I note other providers for the homeless must be reading this but not commenting. There is no “I” in “team.”
Let’s have a proper debate?
Chris.

Reply to the comment left by Kay Densley at 02/12/2017 - 10:37
Hi Kay

Yes homelessness is on the increase and is going to get far worse due to Universal Credit (as well as the Section 24 Tenant Tax forcing some landlords to sell up, or increase their rents to cover the increased tax burden).

Your "sponsorship" idea is really good as people do like to know what their donation is actually funding and what positive impact it is having on people's lives.

Reply to the comment left by Annie Landlord at 02/12/2017 - 11:25
Hi Annie

The Councils don't have a "homeless list" as such, if the council do not have a statutory duty to rehouse someone, then the homeless applicant is simply sent away with basic advice to "go look on the internet for a private rented property". Thus, the ones that the Council does have on a list are the ones that the council have a legal duty to house. The ones sleeping on the streets (or on friends' floors/sofas, in tents, etc, are the ones that the council do not have a duty to house, so these are not on any council list.

As Mandy points out, housing these homeless people is very high risk, as they come with a wide range of chaotic lifestyles and related issues (drugs, alcohol, mental health, abuse (all types), learning difficulties, etc, etc), and there is consequently a much higher cost involved in providing accommodation for them (plus higher risk of tenancy breakdowns, damage, need for evictions, abandonment, etc). While providing support can help to reduce the risks, it does not overcome them entirely, and tenancies can and do still fail at a much higher percentage level than would be expected for other tenant groups.

Reply to the comment left by Mandy Thomson at 02/12/2017 - 12:32Hi Mandy
These are very important points that you raise, which I have also touched upon in my reply to Annie Landlord. However, I disagree with your comment about private landlords being unable to issue licence agreements to residents, it is not very common and most people who try to issue licences fail and their agreements would be legally deemed as being tenancy agreements, but it is not impossible. I have issued occupancy licences for around 5 years now, and this was only challenged in court once (in relation to whether the correct possession procedure and documentation had been used), which caused an adjournment, but upon return to court the defendant's barrister conceeded that everything had been done correctly, whereupon I was granted possession. However, even though a "licence" can be given, it does not exclude the Protection from Eviction Act, so a private landlord still has to go through the court to obtain an eviction (whereas some charities may be excluded from this requirement and can just give reasonable notice and then change the locks).

Reply to the comment left by Mark Alexander at 30/11/2017 - 18:17
was there some form of converting storage cabins into bedsits for single homeless people done in London. With the rise in divorced single and young men in particular looking for homes these might help.

was there some form of converting storage cabins into bedsits for single homeless people done in London. With the rise in divorced single and young men in particular looking for homes these might help.

Reply to the comment left by loretta wight at 02/12/2017 - 19:44
Hi Loretta

I'm not sure about the converted storage in London that you mention, but there are certainly some fantastic micro homes that could be provided for homeless people, if only UK planning laws (and other regulations) would allow them. If you have a look on the Tiny House Talk website http://tinyhousetalk.com/category/micro/ you will see some brilliant micro homes that are really cheap to build and can be transported easily and connected up to services etc, but the law around their use is complex and from my research I could not get a definite answer as to whether they would be allowed as permanent housing (albeit for temporary residents), but the indication is that they cannot be used that way. UK law would seem to treat them as caravans, and as such they cannot be used in the same way as regular housing.

Loretta, shipping containers have been used as temporary housing in Brighton at Richardson’s Yard.
https://www.bht.org.uk

Reply to the comment left by Kay Densley at 03/12/2017 - 06:25
A bit like the old prefabs. I would live in one if skint. I have seen others used in Dublin for the homeless
We have a fantastic centre and housing just built around the corner for veterans. State of the art.