A scheme aiming to increase the number of affordable homes to rent in Torbay has given its first tenant a roof over his head. Housing charity Chapter 1 have set up a social enterprise lettings scheme to find good quality homes and then make them available to local residents who needed a home.
By the end of the year The Torbay Private Sector Leasing Scheme hope to have a portfolio of at least one-hundred homes as they build on the success of similar schemes elsewhere in the West Country. The project is a partnership between Chapter 1 and local private property owners with an interest in landlord insurance. The landlords will lease their properties to Chapter 1 who then take on the responsibility for letting the homes to suitable tenants and the day-to-day maintenance of the property. Chapter 1 operates on a not-for-profit basis so the rent the tenant pays will include the cost of running the popular scheme.
Scheme Manager Julie Renshaw explained: “We offer housing to meet a wide range of need, including single people, couples and families. Most of our tenants will simply have fallen through the net of traditional housing provision. They may have difficulty raising their deposit or have suffered repossession or a relationship breakdown. Only a few will have been rough sleepers or been referred from the homeless hostel. Most will have been living in temporary, over-crowded or unsuitable accommodation.”
Everyone involved are extremely pleased to be working on this innovative partnership that will make such a difference to people’s lives. This scheme will benefit tenants who need accommodation, the community and the private landlord whose property has been brought back into use. The launch of the scheme complements the work done at Torquay’s homeless hostel by Chapter 1 who will be able to offer tenancies to some of the former residents.