21st
Dec 2023
A council intends to spend £10 million on purchasing homes put up for sale by landlords leaving the sector to find homes for those in the local community at risk of being made homeless because of landlords leaving the sector and other reasons.
Plymouth council is applying for £5m funding from the government to reach its target of £10m.
The council says locals are faced with a real problem of a lack of affordable accommodation which has rocketed demand for housing and homelessness support services.
According to the council its plan will reduce the amount paid for temporary accommodation by more than £1m per year.
The BBC was told by Councillor Mark Lowry, cabinet member for finance: “This is a sensible way to make people’s lives better and to help tackle a budget pressure which will only get worse.
"We have to do something as this is just awful for families caught in this situation."
Councillor Chris Penberthy, cabinet member for housing, co-operative development and communities, says: “Plymouth is experiencing a record amount of people approaching the council for housing support.
“We are now seeing families with jobs, with children who find themselves simply unable to find a place to live.
"Landlords are selling up in record numbers, mortgages are going through the roof as well as rent.
“We have been talking to property agents and, for every home that comes up to rent, there are over 100 inquiries.”
Council figures show there has been a massive 158 per cent increase short-term/temporary accommodation since 2019 from 160 households to 413 this year.
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