Local Authorities are increasingly reliant upon the Private Rental Sector (PRS) to place people experiencing homelessness yet it is one of the main causes of homelessness.

‍

This raises the importance of understanding how we can improve security of tenure within PRS. This report looks into current practices drawing upon recent research by a range of organisations to highlight current issues within security of tenure and offering solutions that will help prevent homelessness and improve security within PRS.

Our Head of Data and Evidence, Guillermo Rodriguez-Guzman, explains this project in a nutshell in the video below.

‍

‍

Findings

• Housing affordability, availability and access are all acting as major barriers for accommodation-based interventions that aim to prevent and relieve homelessness and play a crucial role in the sustainment of existing tenancies
• There is a need for policy which better supports tenants, one particular area of focus would be addressing the gap between housing benefit cover and rental prices; this could prevent  homelessness from occurring in the first place 
• Landlord incentives such as rent guarantees and deposit bonds may help encourage landlords to accept tenants receiving benefits
• Reconsider how much focus is given to pre-tenancy training as current research has shown it might not be enough to encourage landlords to let to those claiming benefits
• Empathy and special expertise as well as/ in combination with the implementation of lived experience through schemes such as peer support these have already been proven to have led to better tenancy attainment

‍

What's next

There will continue to be a need for further reforms in the PRS and beyond to make private renting a safe, fair, secure, and affordable experience for the low-income households who continue to rely on it.

‍

Team

Stephen Green, Centre for Regional Economic Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University
Ed Ferrari, Centre for Regional Economic Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University
Guillermo Rodriguez-Guzman, Centre for Homelessness Impact

‍