Path Services: Benefits for Landlords

Over the past ten years we would not have been able to help over 2000 individuals into privately rented accommodation had it not been for the ongoing support of landlords within the city.

The private rented sector undergoes almost constant change and our services need to adapt to reflect these changes.

In April 2006 we secured funding from the Big Lottery fund in order to help support and identify new landlords who house our client groups.

This section of our website is aimed at giving private landlords an understanding of how our existing services can be of benefit to you in housing people in housing need.

Pre - tenancy

Clients referred into our services have to follow a set of procedures in order for us to offer support:

• Attend an assessment interview
• Provide identification
• Provide proof of income (and possibly bank statements)
• In some cases we will insist on previous landlord/character references
• Check for previous HB overpayment (which would mean a reduction at next property)
• Provide full housing history

This can mean that we have a better understanding of a client and their housing needs and what sort of accommodation might be most appropriate.  This does not mean that we can recommend clients to you; we still advise that you follow your own procedures in respect of taking on new tenants, but it does mean that we will have a much more in depth understanding of our clients.

Deposit Guarantee Scheme

What do we do that can help you?

• Assist with completion of PTD and affordability checks
• Complete and hand in housing benefit forms
• Monitor housing benefit until in payment
• Problem solve if any problems arise with housing benefit
• Provide template rent account spreadsheets
• Provide advice and support if required

Tenancy Support

If you have any existing or new tenants who struggle to carry out the necessary tasks to maintain their tenancies we can provide a tenancy support service to help.  All you need to do is highlight the problems to the Rent Deposit team and we can intervene and refer the tenant for specialist tenancy support (with the client’s agreement). 

Summary

It is not Path’s aim to place (sometimes) vulnerable tenants into accommodation that they do not have the skills to maintain.  We see ourselves, our clients and landlords all having the same goal: long term, stable tenancies.

In acknowledging that sometimes there are problems, we hope to provide support and advice for both tenants and landlords in order to help keep tenancies running smoothly.

Ultimately, our aim is to reduce homelessness by helping people into sustainable tenancies. 

We do not manage properties, simply offer assistance, therefore we do not charge for the support we offer to landlords. 

If you are a landlord who has not worked with us before but would like to have an informal talk, please contact our rent deposit team.