Local authorities and their partner agencies use a variety of methods to identify and make contact with landlords in their area.
The most important initial action is to understand the local market, which will differ across the country. Unless authorities find out what type of landlords they have in their district they will be unable to put together the right incentives to encourage landlords to offer tenancies to people nominated by the authority.
Some landlords may have a portfolio of existing properties that include some in poor condition or which are not self- contained. Such properties can be brought up to a decent standard with the help of private sector renewal grants, which can then bring down the rents to a more affordable level.
Landlords may also be developers prepared to lease existing stock on other sites as a section106 option on new developments. This is a useful option to consider where authorities have maximised the affordable housing percentage on a new site but don't have the funding necessary to carry out the development.
Smaller landlords, with typically 1 or 2 properties, may have bought their properties as a buy-to-let investment and may wish to manage them themselves. If they have borrowed money to buy the property they will be working to very tight financial margins and rental flow will be crucial for them.
Some people will have inherited properties and may leave them empty while they sort out what to do with it. These properties may be suitable to lease in the short term, and briefings for local probate solicitors can be a useful way to make contact.
Employing someone with direct experience of the private rented sector, for example a letting agent, to run a private sector letting scheme can be an effective way for a local authority to increase access to this sector. They will have contacts that no housing officer is likely to have, and will understand the market and speak the same language landlords speak.
Council tax records are a useful tool both to identify and communicate with private landlords and owners of empty properties.
Case study- Bournemouth BC
Bournemouth BC uses S85 of the Local Government Act 2003 to identify owners of empty properties and send them information about the various funding and management packages available to landlords with vacant properties. They ensure that all staff are aware of the options available, so that when prospective landlords contact the council they get the information they want.
Once an authority has identified the different segments of the local market, it is vital to visit key landlords and letting agents to market direct lets to local authority clients. Many authorities ask HB departments to identify the 10 landlords / agents receiving the highest amount of direct housing benefit payments in the area and then visit them to promote direct lets. Bristol County Council uses the HB cheque run to promote its private sector lettings service and also its grants programmes to landlords. Not only is this a proven way of increasing access to the private rented sector, it can also help council officers tackle any existing tenancy problems, thus preventing homelessness.
Many authorities have private landlord forums and these can be a useful way to maintain contact as well as offering landlords training, advice and assistance with problems. Many landlords join local landlord associations, often operating on a regional or county- wide basis, which can be a valuable way to make contact.
Swindon BC holds an annual landlords' exhibition and invites Inland Revenue, HB, RSLs, environmental health, Empty Homes Team and the private lettings team to meet landlords and offer advice and encouragement.
Case study - Bristol Landlords' Expo
Bristol County Council, in partnership with Bath and NE Somerset, South Gloucester and BALMA (Bristol Association of Landlords and Managing Agents) jointly host an annual, highly successful and well attended Landlords' Expo offering advice and information to private landlords. The Expo includes private sector suppliers, professional and legal services and services such as the fire officer, with over 30 stands. LA services for private landlords and tenants are heavily promoted at the Expo, where the key phrase is "finding tenants, no fees, no fuss".
Bristol CC has developed a comprehensive landlord information pack in a loose leaf A4 folder, funded through private sector sponsorship and also available on their website.
Contact martin_painter@bristol-city.gov.uk
One of the most important aspects when dealing with landlords and lettings agents is honesty about HB payment times and cycles, pre tenancy determinations, access to discretionary housing payments (DHP), how overpayments are dealt with and who is likely to be seeking accommodation. Authorities wishing to assist people with support needs to find private sector lets can, with the tenant's consent, provide the prospective landlord with details of the support package agreed and contact details if problems arise.