Lettings agent aims to tackle homelessness on the south coast
SDM Property is already working with councils and director Mark Vine is urging landlords to help with temporary accommodation.
An estate agent is leading calls for landlords to help councils tackle homelessness.
Mark Vine (pictured), Director of Southampton-based SDM Property, has suggested that private landlords could play a greater role in helping councils reduce their reliance on expensive temporary accommodation.
It comes as the lettings agency is expanding its homelessness prevention work across the south coast.
The private rented sector can’t solve homelessness on its own. But there are good landlords with homes and local families who desperately need them.”
The brand already works with councils and private landlords to find settled homes for people who are homeless or living in emergency or temporary accommodation.
In the past 12 months alone, SDM says it has secured 532 tenancies for single people and families who were homeless or living in emergency or temporary accommodation.
The residential letting agency is now expanding the model, taking on around 10 units in Bournemouth in recent weeks and another three in Portsmouth.
Its approach has received backing from East Hampshire District Council and New Forest District Council.
Local solutions
Vine says: “We’re a business and this has to work for the landlord as well as the tenant. But we’ve discovered that an agent can use its relationships with landlords and councils to solve some very real problems in its community.
“This isn’t a migrant accommodation scheme, which is a different area requiring a specialist approach. This is a pragmatic local solution for people in our communities who are homeless or living in emergency or temporary accommodation.
“We’re talking about families living in hotels because they can’t find an affordable rental property, or somebody suddenly facing homelessness because their landlord needs to sell.”
SDM now wants to hear from landlords in Southampton, Bournemouth, Portsmouth and surrounding areas who have suitable properties and might previously have ruled out letting to households receiving benefits.
Vine adds: “The private rented sector can’t solve homelessness on its own. But there are good landlords with homes and local families who desperately need them.
“If agents and councils can bring more of those people together, everybody benefits – including the taxpayer.”
