What does ‘levelling up’ look like for homeless people?

Since the pandemic, rental prices have increased and stock has reduced.

Rightmove reported an 11.7% annual increase in rents in March 2022. Increases make it harder to find reasonable homes in the private rental sector for our clients. For example, one affordable property advertised by us which did not discriminate against people on benefits received 90 enquiries in two days.

We feel this is just the tip of the iceberg, and we are going to see more clients over the coming months as the cost of living increases bite.

“You may think that landlords would not be willing to rent out their homes to our clients with the perceived risk to the property or their fears that rent may not be paid. Our role here is to take away those concerns”

Too often, our clients are facing many issues, but regardless of each person’s situation, what is common to everyone is that they cannot access the private rented sector without our help. They may not have deposits, rent in advance, credit scores, or the guarantees needed to secure a property. However, they do have the potential to be excellent tenants if landlords are willing to take them on.

We believe we are bridging that gap. We think there is a way for charities to work with landlords at a local level. We know that 85% of landlords in the UK own between one and five properties and would usually rent their properties through a commercial letting agent while paying fees to cover the process.

At Rentstart, we are actively recruiting landlords to let out their properties to our clients instead.

You may think that landlords would not be willing to rent out their homes to our clients due to the perceived risk to the property or their fears that rent may not be paid. Our role here is to take away those concerns. We have been able to partner with local landlords to let their properties to our clients, because we guarantee the rent, provide the deposit and, crucially, support each tenant with our team of specialist support workers.

We work tirelessly to ensure that our clients stay housed and succeed with their tenancies. This way landlords feel secure, as they know that we are in regular contact with every client, we make sure that rent is paid.

We also help our clients with practical and emotional support, with a focus on financial literacy and supporting people into employment; we had a 30% increase in people finding work in the past six months. This is more than they receive from a traditional lettings agency, and we are not charging fees for this service.

There are many charities like mine across the country. We are experts in supporting people from homelessness to living independent successful lives. With guaranteed rent and no agency fees, we find landlords are willing to let at a more affordable rate.

If more landlords know about us and the charities like us in communities across the UK, then it could be the start of making housing more affordable for all. If property owners are willing to let their properties, while supporting each type of tenancy, then everyone wins.

Clients facing homelessness or with a vulnerable housing need will then have a safe, secure, quality home and can begin to build up small savings and credit scores for their futures. In turn, landlords know their property is looked after, the tenancy is supported and that charities like ours can take away the hassle of being a landlord for them. What’s more, they are not incurring the fees that letting agencies charge. We all succeed.

Real change can happen at a local level by the very experts who understand their own neighbourhoods. This is not an expensive solution. It could be rolled out simply and cheaply across the country if we can just connect more local landlords with the multiple local homelessness charities that have the expertise to ensure their clients can succeed in the private rented sector.

Helen Watson, chief executive, Rentstart