I attended a landlords forum meeting last night co-hosted by a brilliant company called Housing Action. They are a housing charity offering an extraordinary service for landlords in the East Anglia area.
Housing Action are a registered charity who have been around since 1989. They aim to re-house and support individuals and families in need, and offer them a way back into the private section. Many of these are simply unfortunate and given a chance, will make as good a tenant as one able to lay £1,000 on the table as deposit and first months rent.
Once let, Housing Action will visit the property on a monthly basis to check that all is well. As they say on their website:
We can’t house everyone but do our best to give you the best advice and support. If we do find you a place to live, part of the deal is that you accept our support and supervision. We want you to thrive in your new home and will work with you to overcome problems or difficulties. We often work with other specialised support services in partnership and together we can help you overcome what seems impossible to you right now.
Although they own properties themselves and are therefore landlords in their own right, Housing Action need more properties to house their large waiting list of potential tenants. They offer an amazing deal to their landlords, which includes:
- No voids
- Free EPCs
- Free Redecoration on return of the property after 36 months
- Online Access to Inspection notes and history
- 24 Hour Emergency Service for tenants
- Guaranteed rent for as long as the landlord allows them to tenant the property
- Monthly rent paid in arrears
- The ability fto take over existing tenants in receipt of housing benefit
- Monthly inspections
So far as the rent itself is concerned, obviously this service has to be paid for, and you may get less per month than you would having your property managed by High Street agency. On the other hand, no voids and re-decoration on return, is a really good deal. Plus you don’t have all the hassle of dealing with local authority benefit offices and late night call outs. For example it sounds like a good option for people with property at the lower end of the market who want to use it for their pension income. Plus it is nice to know that your property is being used to help people in need.
If you want to know more, visit the website, www.housingaction.co.uk, or give them a ring on 0845 257 0903 (8am to 8pm 7 days a week).
I am interested in long let for reasonable rent in the Richmond/Ham/Kingston area.
How do I get info or on to a list for such housing.
Many thanks
Pam
This isn’t really something this blog can help you with. I don’t think Housing Action operate in that area at present (although no harm in asking them). Have a word with your Local Authority housing office or CAB.
im 17 and am forced to rent somewhere on my own due to problems in the family, i want to rent a room in a shared house but cant scrammble enough money together for the deposit can i get help with this at all ??
I am afraid I cannot help with housing problems. Why not ring up Housing Action and have a word with them? Their telephone number is 0845 257 0903 (8am to 8pm 7 days a week).