Leading temporary accommodation provider to help Council combat homelessness
The housing waiting lists in Bedford are being tackled through the intervention of private sector leasing (PSL) with the Borough Council enlisting the skills and expertise of national property services group Orchard & Shipman in a forward thinking partnership.
The contract is the first time PSL has been used as a housing solution by Bedford Borough Council and is further evidence of the importance of the role the private rented sector has to play in meeting housing demand in the UK.
Talking of the contract, John Taylor, CEO for Orchard & Shipman said: “The private rented sector (PRS) has always played a significant role for local authorities, helping them alleviate housing shortages within restrictive budgets and reduced traditional affordable social housing supply. We are delighted to be working in partnership with Bedford Borough Council to help them combat homelessness throughout the Borough, in a move that demonstrates their commitment to identifying the best and right, solutions and services for their constituents in an affordable and practical way. ”
Orchard & Shipman will supply a minimum of 62 self-contained quality properties obtained from private landlords and other property owners for periods of up to three years initially. The properties will then be used by the council to house those deemed as homeless, thus meeting the Council’s statutory duty to provide suitable temporary accommodation to homeless households.
Cllr Roger Rigby, portfolio holder for Adult Services at Bedford Borough Council, said: “In these challenging economic times, letting a home has become more desirable, and the private rented sector is becoming a more vital part of the Council’s housing strategy. This approach is about the
Council ensuring we fully harness the potential of private sector rented property. It will improve service availability for some individuals who would have otherwise been faced with homelessness if it had not been for this scheme.”
