A Labour-run council is appealing to private landlords who have homes sitting empty, urging them to come forward and help ease local housing pressures.

Exeter City Council says its Housing Access Together (HAT) scheme is designed to bring vacant properties back into use by matching them with residents who urgently need a place to live. The initiative aims to reduce the number of empty homes in the city while giving landlords a straightforward route to reliable tenants.

In its statement, the council said: “Exeter landlords looking for a good tenant are being urged to take advantage of the service, which is completely free and matches landlords with tenants for any type or size of property.”

And the council continues: “The scheme aims to create sustainable tenancies that work for both landlords and tenants. 

“The HAT scheme offers a generous incentive package, including up-front cash and no letting agent fees.”

The council says the scheme is designed to take the hassle out of letting, offering what it describes as “rapid payment processing for deposit and rent in advance,” alongside suitability and affordability checks for prospective tenants. Landlords are also given guidance on their legal responsibilities to ensure they remain compliant.

As part of the service, the authority carries out all required Right to Rent checks and can provide a tenancy agreement where needed. Despite the support on offer, the council stresses that landlords retain full control over who moves into their property and are free to decide whether to proceed with a tenancy.