Council offers landlords cash to take tenants off waiting list

A council in north London is offering private landlords incentives of up to £3,200 to take tenants off its waiting books.

Barnet has also revamped its lettings service, let2barnet.

Almost 100 local landlords attended a launch event which kicked off a major campaign to encourage more landlords to sign up to the scheme.

Adverts appealing for more landlords have been placed on buses, at bus stops and Tube stations, and in local newspapers.

More than 1,200 landlords are already signed up to the scheme, says Barnet, but the imbalance between social housing supply and demand means that more private landlords are needed to plug the gap.

Barnet is by no means the first council to try to tempt local landlords to help solve its housing crisis, but is offering one of the more generous schemes.

Barnet Homes chief executive Tracey Lees said: “The appeal of our let2barnet scheme for landlords is that it removes the hassle and stress of managing their tenancy.

“For us it’s a great way to ease the increasing pressure on Barnet’s social housing and provide homes we can offer to many more individuals and families who approach us for help.”

Incentives for landlords include a complete management service, offering guaranteed rent, a lease of up to three years, property management plus cash for new properties and renewals, and £500 towards landlords’ insurance.