We all need a safe, comfortable place to call home.
But times are tough at the moment, and a growing number of people are being pushed into homelessness.
Renters falling into arrears and then being evicted is one of the main reasons for this.
As a landlord or employer, you might want to help, but may be unsure about how to approach things.
You can take simple steps that could have a big impact and help stop more people being forced into homelessness.
Together, let’s stand with Crisis, the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. We can help them achieve their ultimate goal – ending homelessness for good.
Here’s what you can do to support your tenants and applicants during the cost-of-living crisis.
How to help a tenant through the cost-of-living crisis
Come up with a repayment plan together
If your tenant falls into rent arrears, see if you can figure out a repayment plan together.
Discuss what they can afford to pay each month. It can help to find out what family members they support, if they are employed and what other financial responsibilities they have.
Share financial support options
Urge your tenant to claim Universal Credit if they meet the eligibility criteria.
If they are already receiving benefits, their local Jobcentre can help them manage rent costs. For example, they could pay rent directly to you out of the benefit payments. (The tenant will need to request this themselves.)
Signpost them to Help to Rent schemes
Some Help to Rent schemes are designed to help renters with their current tenancy, while others can help them find and secure a new rental home.
Search the Help to Rent database
The Renting Ready training course from Crisis is one option for those moving into their first rental home. It‘s a way for people to develop their independent living skills and learn how to find and keep a long-term home.
Use a proper mediation service
If you and your tenant are finding it hard to reach an agreement, you can access mediation services from the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA).
The NRLA can provide mediation services and advice on all tenancy-related matters.
If you work with the Housing Procurement team at Crisis, you can access NRLA services for free. Email [email protected] if you’d like to find out more.
Let your local authority know if you serve a mandatory eviction notice
If you can’t resolve the build-up of unpaid rent and need to serve a mandatory eviction notice to a tenant, let your local authority know as soon as possible.
This is one of the most supportive things you can do to help a tenant avoid being pushed into homelessness.
The council’s Housing Options team will contact the tenant, offer support and make sure they have a safe place to live once they move out.
How to help more people secure a rental home
Accept tenants who claim housing benefits or Universal Credit
Crisis says that rejecting a tenancy application because someone is receiving benefits counts as a discriminatory practice.
A tenant who is receiving benefits or Universal Credit can provide reliable and consistent payments.
Keep in mind that the amount of Universal Credit tenants receive will equal whichever is lower: their rent or the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate.
Check the LHA rate for your property.
Be flexible with homeowner guarantors
Many landlords ask tenants to have a guarantor who is a homeowner, but not everyone has access to this kind of guarantor.
Show flexibility around this requirement and try to accept non-homeowners as guarantors.
You could still carry out a credit check on the guarantor and ask for proof of their income, savings or other financial details.
Let tenants pay their deposit in instalments
Consider allowing a tenant to pay the deposit for their tenancy in stages. This can help ease the financial burden of paying several months’ worth of rent all at once.
You can put a signed written agreement in place detailing when the full amount will be paid by.
Make sure that the deposit is protected within 30 days of the first payment, even if it's not the full amount.
Ease rent-in-advance requirements
Rent-in-advance can be a huge barrier for people looking to enter into a tenancy, as it’s often up to 6 months rent.
If you can, try to show flexibility in the amount of rent-in-advance a tenant is required to pay.
Offer longer or open-ended tenancies
Consider offering tenants longer or open-ended tenancies from the outset (more than 12 months if possible).
This increases stability in the tenure and means they are less likely to be pushed into homelessness.
Make property adjustments for disabilities
Be open to making adjustments to the property if a tenant has a disability. You may be able to fund small works through Disabled Facilities Grants.
Be open to pets
Consider allowing your tenants to keep pets in the property (if you don’t already).
You can’t legally issue a blanket ban on pets, but you can say ‘no’ if you think the pet will cause damage or disruption to the neighbours.
Get support from a letting agent
Letting agents can be a valuable helping hand, both in finding a new tenant and managing a tenancy.
They can make sure a tenant is suitable by checking references and their Right to Rent. They can also set up the tenancy agreement so you’re both protected.
And once a tenant is in, they’ll be able to advise you on the options if the tenant’s situation changes or if they struggle to pay rent on time.
What else can you do?
Everyone is facing higher living costs at the moment, and people who rent tend to feel the squeeze more than others.
To help your tenants, you could:
Improve the energy efficiency of the property to help them save money on energy bills and stay warm and comfortable
Encourage them to apply for cost-of-living support from the government
Help them see if they can get a Council Tax discount
Find cheaper energy deals and pass the savings on, if bills are part of the rental cost
Allow them to get a water meter fitted if they think it will save them money