Slough council is suffering a major housing crisis and if plans for a new Heathrow runway come to fruition, the situation could get a whole lot worse. In an attempt to try and solve their problems, the council is offering 700 private sector landlords a financial incentive to join the new social lettings scheme.
Housing Crisis
Like many London boroughs, Slough does not have enough housing stock to meet demand. The town has seen a huge influx of homeless families from other London boroughs, but the council has now decided to make local families the priority. It wants to find new accommodation for families already living in Slough and currently in overcrowded or unsuitable accommodation, with the emphasis on families not entitled to local authority housing but who still need help.
“Affordable private rental properties are scarce across the country, not just in Slough,” says the council deputy leader.
“Good quality housing is one of the foundations of leading a happy, healthy life, and our ultimate goal is to make sure every family has that opportunity.”
Under the new incentive scheme, landlords can claim a one-off payment if they agree to house council tenants. Alternatively, the council will guarantee to cover the cost of any damage caused by tenants (up to an agreed amount).
Housing Association Scheme
There is also a second scheme available. Landlords can lease their properties to Paradigm Housing Association, which pays a guaranteed monthly rent and manages the property on the landlord’s behalf.
Interested landlords can email or call the council for more information.
