Chiefs are planning to house homeless families in private rentals for the first time, but fears have been raised over the looming threat of ‘no fault’ evictions.
Tameside’s executive cabinet has agreed to consult on plans to offer families living in temporary accommodation permanent new homes in the private rented sector.
Currently the town hall only has the legal power to house homeless families in properties operated by a registered social landlord.
However this has limited the number of available properties, and has meant many residents have had to remain in temporary accommodation for ‘extended’ periods of time.
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As of June of this year, there were 220 temporary accommodation placements, costing the council around £18k a night, according to the cabinet report.
During 2019-20, there were 365 households that were accepted as homeless in the borough.
Councillor John Taylor, cabinet member for adult social care, homelessness and inclusivity said: “This report will allow the council to add private rented sector to the offer that we make to the people who present themselves as homeless.
“It will also help us to reduce the number of people who are in temporary accommodation. If properties are suitable, properties will be inspected and we’re going to ensure that properties are fit for people to be in there.”
Before moving a family into private rented accommodation, officers state the council would carry out a property inspection to ensure its condition and that it complies with all health and safety regulations.
However Coun Jacqueline North raised concerns about the possibility of families being served with ‘no fault’ eviction notices when in the private rented sector.
A Section 21 notice allows a landlord to evict tenants on Assured Shorthold Tenancies, the most common type of tenancy in the private rental sector, without reason with only two months’ notice.
She told the meeting: “One thing of course that’s outside of our control is the problem of Section 21 notices that the government has promised repeatedly to deal with and failed to do so.
“And that could also potentially affect anyone that we put into the private rented sector.”
Council leader Ged Cooney said: “There are good private sector housing landlords but we won’t take truck with those where the properties are not up to standard. We’re not after the ones where they’ve got no concern for the tenant.
“I agree we need to have a conversation with anyone moving quickly to a Section 21 without informing us. What we would hope is that with a bit of support an issue could be resolved if it arose.”
Other local authorities have already begun using the powers to place families in private rented accommodation but Tameside had not proposed adopting the policy until now.
The report states there is no ‘corporate memory’ as to whether it was considered at the time the legislation changed in 2011.
However the town hall has used private rentals to house people who have been sleeping rough in the borough over the past three years.
A 12 week consultation on the proposals will now be launched to get the views of residents and stakeholders.
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