A new partnership being launched today aims to see if the private rented sector can contribute to ending homelessness.

It takes the shape of a three-year project between homelessness charity Crisis and tenancy service TDS Group.

Research by the TDS Charitable Foundation, a charity funded by TDS Group, suggests that 46% of private landlords feel unable to provide homes to tenants housed via a local authority.

Dr Jennifer Harris of TDS Group says:”The Government has rightly committed to developing a cross-government strategy to end homelessness for good. For all the challenges it faces, the private rented sector can play an important and positive role in helping to achieve this mission. 

“Working with Crisis, landlords and those who face homelessness we will build the evidence needed to demonstrate how best to improve access to stable, secure and decent rented housing for those most in need.” 

TDS Group will now fund specialist staff at six Crisis Skylight centres across the country to work with landlords and those facing homelessness to improve access to rental housing and sustain tenancies. 

There will also be help for people experiencing homelessness with the costs of setting up a home in the private rented sector. This will include TDS providing money to help with deposits, fund new furniture and help with travel to view properties. 

TDS will also pay for research and developing evidence to inform policy makers on the best way to support those who are, or are at risk of homelessness, to access the private rented sector.

The initiative comes amidst an apparent homelessness crisis.

Between January and March this year 86,520 households approached their local council for homelessness assistance and were deemed eligible for support, the highest since 2018 when the Homelessness Reduction Act was introduced.

Some 117,450 households were in temporary accommodation as of March 31, up 12% from the same time last year. Of these, 17,750 were living in bed and breakfast accommodation, up 30%.

The 2011 Localism Act gave councils the power to discharge their housing duty to homeless applicants by offering private rented accommodation. However, according to Crisis, 97% of councils said that it had become more difficult to source private rentals for households experiencing or at risk of homelessness over the previous year.

Francesca Albanese of Crisis says: “High deposits and up-front rent payments, mean the private rented sector is almost inaccessible for people facing homelessness. Plus, unaffordable rents, a lack of social housing and high living costs are making it increasingly challenging for many low-income households to find and keep a stable home.”