Letting agents have been invited to be part of a controversial scheme to house migrants in private rental properties across England.

The Daily Telegraph says Serco, a private contractor working for the Home Office, is hosting an event next month open to agents, landlords and property investors  with units in the Midlands, north west and east of England.

A Serco website headlined Calling All Landlords says: “Our purpose is the provision of accommodation, transportation and subsistence payments for asylum seekers whilst their claims are being processed.

“We are responsible for over 30,000 asylum seekers in an ever growing portfolio of more than 7,000 properties. Our operating model is based on leasing properties from a wide network of landlords, investors and agents with Serco acting as a Tenant.

“We want to work with you and will consider all types of properties in the North West, Midlands or East of England.

“These include traditional HMO’s, family property, former carehome, residential and student accommodation.”

Serco then gives a telephone number and online form for interested agents or landlords to seek more details.

The initiative comes as the government presses ahead with the Renters Rights Bill, widely seen by the lettings sector as responsible for a reduction in rental stock as landlords quit ahead of its implementation.

The Telegraph points out that private rental accommodation for a migrant can cost the taxpayer as little as £34 per night compared to a hotel costing some £145.

In addition the paper says the number of ‘small boat’ migrant arrivals in the UK is expected to rise with the good weather forecast for the coming period. 

You can read the full story on the Daily Telegraph website here, although for some readers it may be behind a paywall: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/04/25/starmer-to-rent-homes-for-migrants/