SDM Property, a Southampton-based lettings agency, is extending its homelessness prevention programme to Bournemouth and Portsmouth. This expansion follows the agency's success in securing 532 tenancies for homeless households over the past year.
The agency's model involves connecting private landlords with local councils to provide settled accommodation for individuals and families living in temporary or emergency housing. SDM Property has recently acquired approximately 10 units in Bournemouth and three in Portsmouth as part of this expansion.
The scheme, which has received support from East Hampshire District Council and New Forest District Council, aims to reduce local authority spending on temporary accommodation. It facilitates tenancies with private landlords who might otherwise be hesitant to rent to benefit recipients.
Mark Vine, director of SDM Property, stated that the initiative addresses local homelessness cases, including families in hotels due to a lack of affordable rental properties and individuals displaced by landlords selling properties. The agency is currently seeking landlords in Southampton, Bournemouth, Portsmouth, and surrounding areas with suitable properties for the scheme.