Letting a property to the Council
Due to tax changes and the legislative changes that have been introduced in the past 5 years and more to come, some landlords are leaving the residential letting market.
Landlords feel it is getting increasingly difficult and expensive trying to evict bad tenants, so some are selling up, and some are letting to local authorities or housing associations.
The tenancy agreement between the landlord and the council or housing association is a common law tenancy. The rent is guaranteed, and the landlord does not have the same obligations as letting a private tenant directly under an assured shorthold tenancy.
Letting your house to a council will mean the rental income will be slightly less than the market rent.
This arrangement helps the councils reduce the waiting list by taking property from the private rental sector for the purpose of social housing.
Landlords do not need to worry about rent arrears as the rent is usually guaranteed. However, most councils will not pay rent in advance. Some councils will offer a none refundable incentive for you to let your property to them.
There are a variety of housing associations in London that rent from private landlords. Depending on your location and specific needs, some of the housing associations that may be able to assist include:
• Peabody – A social housing provider with over 20,000 homes across London, Peabody offers rental properties for both its own tenants and those referred by local councils. It works with
Nearly all councils in the home counties will consider taking properties from private landlords, you will need to make enquiries with your local council.
Do councils rent private houses?
Yes, some councils do rent private houses. Councils are increasingly turning to the private rental sector in order to meet the increasing demand for housing. In most cases, councils will work with a housing association or other organisation to match them with suitable properties from private landlords.
Private landlords can rent to councils directly, although this is usually done through a tenant-find service or through an approved provider such as
I want to rent my house to housing association
Yes, some councils do rent private houses. Councils are increasingly turning to the private rental sector in order to meet the increasing demand for housing.
In most cases, councils will work with a housing association or other organisation to match them with suitable properties from private landlords. Private landlords can rent to councils directly, although this is usually done through a tenant-find service or through an approved provider such as Upad.
Alternatively, you may be able to find out more by contacting your local council directly and asking about their specific processes for renting from private landlords.
Private landlords renting to council
It is becoming more and more common as demand for housing increases. Councils often work with a housing association or other organisations to identify suitable private rental properties and landlords.
Sometimes, councils may rent directly from the landlord without going through an intermediary. Private landlords can also use a tenant-find service or an approved provider to rent to councils, although there may be specific criteria that need to be met.
If you’re interested in renting your property to a council, it’s best to contact your local council directly to find out what they require.
Some useful contacts that may help you:
Tower Hamlet Council – London
Landlords in Tower Hamlets can receive a £2,500 payment for one-bedroom properties if they agree to let council-vetted tenants stay for two years. A lump sum of £4,000 is offered for homes with two or more bedrooms.
Crisis
Charitable organisations also run schemes in many areas to help people find private rented homes. There is a list of all these schemes in this database provided by Crisis, a charity working with homeless people.
External Link: Crisis
This blog is intended as a general blog and is not offering advice on letting or offering legal advice on any letting matters.
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