Royal Greenwich Supports Local Landlords - Calls on Property Owners Lease Their Property To Council

* Cllr Chris Kirby

by our RGB Correspondent | Woolwich

Landlords or property owners within the Royal Borough who need a helping hand to let their houses or flats to tenants can get help from Greenwich Council. 

The Royal Borough of Greenwich wants to encourage more landlords to lease their property to the council, so that it can house people who are in housing need. In return, the council will give a grant of up to £15,000 so any necessary repairs or improvements can be carried out on the property.

If the upgrading costs are more than £15,000, the council can provide an interest-free loan of up to another £20,000 to help pay for the work. Grants may also be available for properties that are to be let for multiple occupations.

In return, rents must be set at a rate that is affordable for tenants receiving housing benefit, and the property must continue to be let for the next three years. If it becomes empty during that time, landlords must agree to accept tenants nominated by the council.

One landlord who signed up to the scheme is Mark Doyle, who owns several shared houses in the borough and rents out rooms privately. He had worked with the council to provide emergency accommodation and short tenancies, and was looking to improve two of the properties that needed updating.

He worked with the council to convert a house in Plumstead Common Road into three one-bedroom flats and three self-contained units with bathroom and cooking facilities. The project is costing around £125,000 and the council is giving him a grant of £50,000 towards the cost, in return for securing the units for future use.

As a result of the project’s success, Mr Doyle has agreed a similar arrangement for a second property, which will be converted to six self-contained units. Work is due to start once the first project is finished.

Mr Doyle said: “The grants scheme is a good one because landlords can get a grant to refurbish properties to a high standard. It has helped me provide good accommodation for people who need it. There is a need for accommodation, both council and private, to house people, and this helps to the accommodation available. I would definitely recommend this scheme to other landlords.”

Councillor Chris Kirby, the council’s Cabinet member for Housing (above right) said: “This collaboration will result in high-standard accommodation being made available to the council to house vulnerable people on housing benefit who need to find good quality, private rented accommodation at an affordable rent."

"The scheme is designed to help reduce the council’s use of high-cost, private sector placements to provide emergency accommodation for homeless people.”

For more information, contact the council’s Disability and Home Improvement team on 020 8921 2614.