The private rented sector has long been recognised as a potential source of accommodation for homeless people, particularly single homeless people who are generally the lowest priority when it comes to allocating the scarce supply of social housing.
This is why Crisis launched the SmartMove franchise model for deposit schemes in 1997. Today there are 28 SmartMoves around the UK operated by local homeless agencies which have helped over 11,000 people into accommodation since they began. Furthermore, in 2006 we were approached by the National Rent Deposit Forum and asked to take over the delivery of advice and guidance on operating deposit schemes. This led to Crisis establishing a national advisory service for local authorities and the voluntary sector offering training, resources and guidance to those wishing to prevent and tackle homelessness using the private rented sector.
In 2008 we worked alongside the London Housing Foundation (LHF) to improve understanding of providing access to the private rented sector. We were not surprised to find that – while most local authorities have some form of access scheme in place for their statutory homeless cases – those who fall outside the narrow definition of ‘priority need' are poorly served. Only 17 schemes in London (under half of the schemes identified) offered a service to those not in priority need and most of these require a local connection and are accessible only by specific client groups.
In partnership with LHF we launched the research paper ‘Private Access, Public Gain' which clearly makes the case that – aside from the moral imperative of assisting those in dire need of housing assistance – a good private rented sector access scheme will lead to considerable savings to the public purse. Such a scheme will deliver real benefits in terms of both preventing homelessness and making better use of existing supported accommodation.
Crisis believes all local authorities should ensure that there is a scheme in place for single and vulnerable homeless people. Furthermore, schemes must be properly resourced to provide a range of services to both landlords and clients based on the wealth of best practice that has been identified over the years. Central to achieving this goal is the proper staffing of schemes to ensure that the services provided meet the needs of both client groups and to provide ongoing support to avoid tenancy breakdown. We work in partnership with the department of Communities and Local Government and the Scottish Government to support the work of local authorities and voluntary sector agencies in England and Scotland and anyone who would like to contact us for advice and guidance can do so at private.renting@crisis.org.uk.
While the private rented sector is not the best solution for everyone – and there remains an urgent need for more social housing and supported forms of accommodation – Crisis' experience is that the PRS can be effectively opened up to provide sustainable ‘ordinary' housing for vulnerable and homeless people through the provision of good quality local services.