‘Let Afghans live in second homes’

AN urgent appeal for landlords in one of the second home capitals of England has been launched to help house fleeing Afghan refugees.

South Hams District Council has asked landlords who have empty homes to come forward now to help meet the acute need for homes for Afghan workers and local families.

While the district is already under unprecedented pressure and a housing crisis due to the lack of affordable places for locals to live, as well as rising demands for housing for local tenants who have been asked to leave their homes through no fault of their own, there is now a pressing need to find accommodation for people fleeing from Afghanistan.

The council has said that they don’t have enough properties already to meet the local needs and so are hoping and asking landlords to come forward and help.

Cllr Hilary Bastone, South Hams District Council’s deputy leader, said: “As a community, we want to do whatever we can to support the government and County Council in finding accommodation for formerly employed Afghan workers and their families.

“The lack of affordable private rented accommodation in the area also continues to mean many families face long periods of time in temporary housing situations whilst we struggle to secure them long-term homes.

“The problem is that we simply don’t have enough properties to meet our local needs. That’s why we are asking landlords in our local communities to come forward now and help us offer a solution.”

She added: “Under the Afghan resettlement scheme, we are looking to source a private-rental sector property to offer to an eligible family. The County Council will commission support to assist the family to integrate and settle into the area. Our understanding is that the scheme will be similar to the Syrian Resettlement scheme, which South Hams District Council already supports.

“We also continue to reach out to landlords to sign up to our SeaMoor lettings scheme, which offers a full property management service. We are hopeful that the community of South Hams will show their generosity and that we will receive offers of accommodation to help those relocating from Afghanistan and those local families who are also in need of homes.”

The Council is specifically looking for family-sized properties in Totnes to support a family fleeing from Afghanistan.