Harrow Council is offering to help landlords succeed by offering a range of tools which include a tenant finding service and a fast-track rent payments system.
News of the new toolkit comes as Northampton Borough Council has pledged to crackdown on rogue landlords in its area and drive up standards of rental properties.
Harrow’s move comes as a growing number of desperate families are in urgent need of accommodation has meant the council is helping property landlords come to them to ease the problem.
Landlords offered three-month rent guarantee
In addition to a tenant finding service, Harrow Council is also offering a three month rent guarantee bond or the deposit and rent in advance.
The council is also offering landlords the choice of tenant, a dedicated account manager as well as cash incentives. The fully managed service also extends to collecting rent and carrying out any necessary inspections.
There is also a leasing scheme which will see the property being managed by the council and lease payments being paid three months in advance.
The service is aimed at offering ‘worry free letting’ for landlords, says the council.
For those joining the leasing scheme, the council is also offering up to £8,000 to help buy a rental property along with a full management service to run it.
The council says there is strong demand for two-bedroom properties in their area which they are desperate to meet.
Unlimited supply of tenants for property landlords
A council spokesman said: “We will provide an unlimited supply of tenants who are ready to move into the property and offer a team of experts to give ongoing advice and guidance on every aspect of letting and managing of the property.”
With increasing pressure on the council’s housing service, the private rented sector is becoming ever more important and, the council hopes, they will also drive up standards in the area’s property rental market as a consequence.
In addition, they have also introduced a fast-track lettings procedure to ensure that rental income continues and that the property will not remain vacant for long periods. The Local Housing Allowance for the property will also be paid directly to the landlord with no fees or charges deducted.
Harrow believes its move to encourage new landlords will help bridge the gap between increasing demand for social housing and the ongoing shortage of properties available for rent.
For more information about the scheme being run by Harrow Council visit the Help2Let website or call them on 020 8424 1605.
