Cliff Notes
- Victoria Henham, head of Ashford Borough Council’s lettings agency, highlights a direct correlation between landlords exiting the private rented sector (PRS) and rising homelessness rates in the area.
- Government statistics indicate that the number of households needing council support to avoid homelessness after their landlord sold their property surged by one-third in just six months.
- According to the Council’s data, approximately 50% of individuals seeking housing advice in 2024 faced issues due to landlords selling their properties.
- Henham notes that the predominant reason landlords terminate tenancies is property sales, which is nearly three times higher than other reasons.
- With a significant demand in the rental market -21 applicants competing for each available rental—there is an urgent need to support responsible landlords in maintaining their properties and alleviating the housing crisis.
Big council claims landlords selling up is causing homelessness
Ashford Borough Council’s Victoria Henham has disclosed that the increase in landlords selling properties is significantly impacting homelessness rates. She has referenced government data showing a substantial rise in households requiring council assistance to prevent homelessness due to landlords opting to sell. This trend is underscored by the Council’s findings, which reveal that a considerable proportion of those seeking housing advice cite property sales by landlords as a primary concern. Henham advocates for initiatives that support responsible landlords, emphasising that they play a crucial role in providing quality housing amidst escalating demand in the rental market.
Ashford Borough Council’s lettings agency boss Victoria Henham says there is a clear link between landlords leaving the PRS and the growth in homelessness.
She points to Government data, which shows that the number of households in the private rented sector which qualified for council support to prevent homelessness after their landlord decided to sell the property has risen by a third in just six months.
The Council’s own data shows around 50% of people approaching it for housing advice during 2024 did so as a result of landlords selling up.
Responsible landlords need encouragement
Henham, who runs the Council’s ABC Lettings agency, adds that selling a property is also the single biggest reason for a landlord to end a tenancy and was almost three times higher than the next most common reason.
She argues more needs to be done to encourage responsible buy-to-let investors to keep their rental properties.
With 21 applicants chasing every rental property, she says: “In the 20 years I have been involved in the industry, this is the toughest time for people to access housing in the private rental market.
Landlords need help now more than ever before.”
“Tenants need greater choice and that means supporting responsible landlords to stay and continue to provide decent quality housing. I know most landlords want to do their bit to help with the current homelessness crisis, in Ashford and elsewhere.
“Landlords need help now more than ever before.”
ABC Lettings was set up by Ashford Borough Council in 2012 to work with private sector landlords to help tackle homelessness across the borough, offering them a traditional management service with guaranteed rents.