Plea to landlords to help tackle homelessness spike

Derventio Housing Trust has called on landlords to help with its vital work housing homeless people.

The trust, which operates hundreds of homes for those who have been made homeless, has said it needs more landlords to come forward to help the spike in demand caused by Covid-19.

According to the trust, the pandemic has placed an additional toll on some of society’s most vulnerable, both mentally and financially.

That, coupled with a shortage of housing stock, means it is seeing greater demand for properties than ever.

The organisation is now appealing to landlords to consider its leasing scheme as an alternative to private rentals.

Under the scheme, the trust offers three years’ guaranteed rent and is responsible for any damage caused by the tenant.

Among the landlords already working with Derventio is Mike Alder, who has been leasing out some of his properties to the housing trust over the past decade.

He said: “It really works for me to lease my properties with Derventio as they manage the tenants and I am guaranteed rent for three years.

“It’s like having a dependable, salaried job: you know you’re going to get paid.

“I provide the housing and they take care of the tenants and any issues.

“I like to do up run-down properties and make them habitable. I became aware of Derventio after buying a house that I could not sell because I had spent too much on it.

“I realised it was more cost effective to let the property to Derventio and allow them to manage it, so their proposition made a lot of sense. Over time, the value of the asset continues to grow.”

Annabel Flint, Derventio’s procurement manager, said: “I’d like to encourage any landlords with available properties to please give us a call to discuss the benefits of leasing with us.

“Not only can we offer you rent security and hassle-free property management, but also the benefit of knowing you are providing a home for someone greatly in need of one.

“We are so grateful to landlords like Mike, who give us the means to provide these valuable bed spaces to the homeless, and who also put unwavering trust in us to look after their properties.”