Letting agency help for hard- up families

A new letting agency is to be launched by the council to help cash strapped families get homes.

Housing benefit doesn’t cover the entire cost of renting privately in pricey South Ayrshire a council paper warned.

Private rents are not an option for most low income families, which piles pressure on the council housing waiting list.

South Ayrshire Council has joined at least another two local authorities in Scotland in setting up a ‘ social letting service.’

The scheme will guarantee rent to landlords if tenants fall into arrears.

Councillors signed off the scheme at the Leadership Panel in Ayr’s County Buildings on Tuesday.

Depute council leader Councillor Brian McGinley said: “People should not be prevented from getting good quality housing just because they are poor.

“I think this is absolutely the right thing to do.”

Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Philip Saxton said the move will make sure people never end up in B& Bs.

The council has put aside £ 215,000 to pay for the startup costs and operation of the not for profit letting agency over the course of four years.

A paper presented to councillors said: “Tenants on Local Housing Allowance in South Ayrshire have to top- up their rental payments.”

The document said the housing allowance rate, which determines benefits, is set for the whole of Ayrshire on average despite rents being lower in East and North Ayrshire.

The paper added: “The majority of landlords in South Ayrshire own one or two properties and operate as landlords on a part- time basis and are in favour of a fully managed service where the ‘ hassle’ involved in being a landlord is taken over by an organisation they trust.”