Private landlords will be asked to consider renting out their properties through their local council in a bid to tackle homelessness. The new initiative has been given the go ahead by Neath port Talbot Council which forms part of the Welsh Government’s Leasing Scheme Wales.
Under the arrangement, the council will lease properties from private sector landlords and sub-let the properties to those it has a duty to protect from homelessness. The scheme is also being used as a way to improve housing stock and how it is used in the area, acting as an intervention to tackle empty properties.
The council said that the initiative, which was approved by the Social Services, Housing and Community Safety Cabinet Board will help move households on from temporary accommodation and reduce poor housing conditions in the private rental sector.
Currently they say that the intention is to lease a maximum of 82 properties in Neath Port Talbot by the end of March 2027 starting with four by March 2023 and increasing each year, with funding for the scheme being in place for an additional five years until 2032.
Under the scheme, councils will take on specific obligations in relation to the maintenance of properties and the rent being paid to the owners. A renovation incentive can also be offered to landlords where properties don’t meet minimum property standards or to improve the property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating. This will be in the form of a grant of up to £5,000.
Empty properties can be brought into the scheme and will be eligible for higher renovation incentives. Empty properties may be eligible for a grant up to a maximum of £25,000 but grants of more than £10,000 will require approval from Welsh Government.
Renovation incentives will only be offered to landlords who sign up to the scheme. If a renovation incentive is approved then local authorities can claim the amount of grant from Welsh Government.
Neath Port Talbot Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member of Housing and Community Safety, Cllr Alun Llewelyn, said: “The scheme will help tackle homelessness by making more properties available and the aim is to improve the quality of private sector rental homes. It’s essential that tenants receive the support they need, and this scheme will provide that."
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