Plea to Fenland’s landlords to help coronavirus response

Fenland Council is appealing to private landlords to help ensure homeless people continue to have a safe place to live once the coronavirus lockdown ends.

Following the COVID-19 outbreak, the Council has been working hard to implement Government guidance to protect rough sleepers from the spread of the virus, to make sure emergency accommodation and support are available.

More than 50 rough sleepers have been temporarily rehoused in local hotels and bed and breakfast facilities and provided with ongoing support, such as treatment programmes and financial advice, to help them move on to permanent accommodation when lockdown restrictions are lifted.

Now the council is asking any landlords with available homes in the district to get in touch to help provide more permanent accommodation.

Councillor Samantha Hoy, Fenland’s portfolio holder for housing, said: “We are continuing to respond to the coronavirus crisis and are doing everything we can to support the needs of homeless people and those at risk of homelessness across the district.

“As well as making sure all rough sleepers are safe during these unprecedented times, we are using this opportunity to ensure they are ready to be permanently rehoused and working hard to ensure that nobody needs to return to the streets once this is over. We need further guidance and financial support from the Government to make that possible, but we also need help from private landlords to

ensure we have the resource available.

“If any landlord has a property that is currently available or going to be available in the near future I would urge them to get in touch.”

There are a number of incentives of working with the Council to provide private housing including finding a tenant quickly, a deposit to secure the property and tenancy advice.

The council’s Private Sector Housing team can also help you assess if your property is suitable and will offer ongoing support once a tenant is in place.

Landlords that can offer help can contact the Council on 01354 654321 and ask for the Housing Options team or email: housingadvice@fenland.gov.uk

Anyone in need of urgent housing advice or assistance can use the contact details above or complete an online referral at: www.fenland.gov.uk/housingadvice