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Homeless idea is safe as houses for private landlords
January 2007
A unique meeting has taken place to encourage private landlords to rent their properties to people on housing waiting lists - and more landlords are being asked to come forward.
Colne Housing consulted proprietors in the Haven Gateway area on Wednesday. The consultation is part of Colne Housing’s ‘Safe Haven’ Project which was set-up after the region saw record levels of over-crowding and long waiting lists for people who are classed as homeless.
27 landlords from across Suffolk met in Needham Market to find out whether a partnership between private landlords and homeless people could work. Colne Housing has been working in partnership with the Mid Suffolk, Ipswich and Suffolk Coastal district councils to help identify suitable landlords.
Karen Langford, Safe Haven Project Manager, said: “The first consultation was very productive and we hope to gain as much feedback as possible from the following two events. We have gained considerable support from all the local authorities in the Haven Gateway area and we hope to be in a position to roll out the project once all the research has been carried out.”
Landlords were given the opportunity to talk about how their properties might be managed under such a scheme; including how repairs would be carried out and what lease terms would be needed.
Bob Smith, Principal Housing Officer for Mid Suffolk District Council who helped facilitate the event, said: “As a council we are supporting the research carried out by Colne Housing and are pleased to be part of the landlord consultation.”
Landlords in the Maldon, Colchester, Tendring, Braintree and Babergh regions will also be approached for the project. Colne Housing is planning further consultation evenings on 25th Jan at 6.00 pm in Colchester and 22nd Jan at 6.00pm in Chelmsford. For more information, please contact Karen Langford, Project Manager at Colne Housing on 01206 244743.
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