A pilot scheme launched by Mansfield District Council to ease the strain on temporary accommodation and social housing has successfully helped 35 homeless households – including 27 children – secure private rented homes within its first four months.
The Private Rented Access Scheme, introduced in February and funded through the Government’s Homelessness Prevention Grant, provides financial and practical support to people either facing homelessness or already in temporary accommodation such as hotels or bed and breakfasts.
The council covers upfront rental costs, including deposits and first month’s rent, to help tenants access housing in the private rented sector.
Seven of the 35 households were supported through RentGuarantor, a private company offering insurance-backed rental guarantees to give landlords additional security against arrears.
HELPING HAND
One tenant helped by the scheme, a disabled mother of five who was left facing eviction after her landlord decided to sell their rented property, praised the council’s intervention.
“I was struggling to get a council house. I managed to find a suitable private rented property – a lovely new-build close to where my children go to school. But we just did not have the money to pay the bond and advance rent. It came to over £2,000,” she said.
“It has been a nightmare. If the council had not stepped into help, we would have had to stay in our home until the landlord took us to court to force us to leave.
Now though, we have a lovely new home and my children have been able to stay in the same schools. The council has been fantastic.”
SAFETY AND SUITABILITY
So far, 20 landlords have signed up to take part, with all properties vetted by the council for safety and suitability.
Among the scheme’s early supporters is Leicester-based property manager Homlex, which currently manages three properties through the initiative.
Louise Powell, Office Manager at Homlex, says: “We have three properties with Mansfield and are certainly open to expanding this number.
“One of the main concerns for landlords is the risk of missed rent payments and assessing tenant viability. Mansfield’s approach addresses both issues effectively.
“The clarity and specificity of their program make it particularly appealing along with a dedicated point of contact, prompt responses and additional tenant support. I highly recommend this scheme to other landlords.”
Homlex has also encouraged other local authorities across the Midlands to adopt similar models and confirmed that several have approached the Mansfield team to learn more.
URGENT HOUSING NEED
Cllr Anne Callaghan, Portfolio Holder for Housing at Mansfield District Council, says the scheme reflects the council’s pragmatic response to urgent housing need.
And she adds: “Increasingly the council has been forced to use hotels which, as well as being expensive, are not satisfactory places for anyone to live for more than a few days.
“Not enough council homes come up for let to help the number of people waiting and although we are building more homes, that takes time and people need housing now.
“This scheme helps people over the hurdle that makes it hard for many people to take on a private rented home – finding the money for the deposit and first month’s advance rent.
I am proud of the innovative and pragmatic way the council has approached this issue.”
The Private Rented Access Scheme is being run as a one-year pilot, with the option to extend based on performance. It forms part of the council’s wider Rough Sleeper and Homeless Prevention Strategy 2024–29.
