Hi Everyone,
May name is Samantha, I am a housing officer contracted by the MOD, provided by the Mears Group to source settled accommodation for Afghan families.
The families were evacuated from Afghanistan by the Ministry of Defence due to their work with the British government. They stood with us and worked with our country at great personal risk, and private landlords can play a positive role in helping these families resettle in the UK.
They have successfully applied to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme. They have been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain and share all the same rights as British citizens, including Right to Rent and Right to Work.
Funding has been made available to councils across England, Scotland, and Wales to support with the cost of securing accommodation for Afghans resettling in the UK.
This funding can be used by local authorities for the following (but not limited to)
• Initial rent top-ups and Rent Guarantee,
• deposit payments,
• furnishing of properties,
• provision of 3 years support to integrate into their new community in the UK.
I am supporting families of all sizes and makeup to source them a home within a preferred area that is suitable and affordable under the local LHA rates.
if you have any properties large or small that you are willing to offer to the “FYO” scheme please do get in touch with me at your earliest convenience.
Your support and assistance would be greatly appreciated by myself, the MOD and the families under our support.
Kindest regards
Samantha
Is this a Rent to Rent situation?
Hi Colin
Apologies, Can you clarify what you mean by Rent to Rent?
Are you paying rent to the landlord and then the tenant pays you rent?
No not at all, the local authority can either pay the tenant themselves so they can make their own rent payments to the landlord or they can arrange to have the rent paid directly to the landlord. we receive no payment or commissions. We are contracted by the MOD.
So the agreement is with the Local Authority?
once a property is sourced we contact the Local authority to see if they are happy to support the family, (offer of support can vary as stated above in initial post) but they are entitled to Universal credit in their own right along with the housing costs and the LHA rate for that area. the tenancy would be in the familys name and managed as a normal tenancy would be. our role is to find them a property, gain support from the receiving LA who then commit to the level of support they are able / willing to offer that particular family.
The reason for contacting the LA for the request of support is due to the fact some families may need more support than others to settle due to the language barrier, continuing ESOL lessons, education needs for children and support integrating into their local community, this process is very daunting for most so we try to ensure the support they have been receiving by the local LA where their temporary placements are currently offering is matched to try and ensure their success.
Ok . Does the Landlord get to interview the prospective tenant ? IE choose that person?
if a property is found, I for example as a housing officer would identify a family that match the suitability for that property and offer this information to the landlord. if a meet and greet was preferred or suggested this is certainly something we could facilitate (more than likely over video call) due to distance etc
What happens when funding runs out
Who pays for the rent then ?
The rent is paid via their entitlement under the housing element of universal credit