PIMS.co.uk has just heard of a breakthrough incentive scheme introduced by Enfield council to offer their private rented sector a free property management service to all landlords. This has been implemented with the specific intent to give a helping help hand to families that are facing homelessness.

The scheme hopes to encourage more landlords into their borough by removing much of the “red tape” when letting out their properties with this strongly incentivised initiative.

Besides the free management service Enfield  council are also offering a “fail safe” to landlords by committing to  three-year leases direct with itself and not with tenants.

They are guaranteeing advance quarterly rent payments to those landlords joining the scheme and what is more deductions for void periods will not be incurred.

The types of properties that the council is looking for are those which are self-contained, one, two, three and four-bedroomed anywhere within the borough’s boundaries.

Councillor Ahmet Oykener, the council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “Good landlords are a valuable resource in the borough and as part of our commitment to working with them we will manage the properties for our landlords; pay a guaranteed rent for an agreed three year period and offer a cash incentive of a minimum one-off payment of £3,000.

“Demand for more family homes in the borough is growing. Through this scheme we can ensure that we place people in good quality housing.”

Richard Merrick PIMS.co.uk says: “This is a really innovative approach to encourage new and existing landlord participation. It makes a nice change hearing about a council wanting to help landlords rather than imposing licensing schemes.

 

"As this has been launched by Enfield’s cabinet member for housing, then other councils will surely take note and perhaps offer the same incentives. “