Richmond Council is set to implement a new policy aimed at supporting tenants in the private rented sector, with the goal of improving choices for those facing homelessness and reducing the council's expenditure on temporary accommodation.
The Adult Social Services, Health and Housing Committee unanimously adopted the Private Rented Sector Offer Policy on Thursday, July 30, 2026. This policy will assist individuals and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness in securing settled accommodation in the private rented sector, thereby discharging the council's main homelessness duty.
The policy ensures that any accommodation offered is suitable, taking into account affordability, physical and medical needs, and reasonable proximity to essential services such as schools. The definition of 'reasonable distance' for schools takes into account the specific needs of the household. For example, a guideline of 75 minutes is used for secondary school children, but this can vary based on mobility. Case law dictates that the impact on younger children who may not be at school must also be considered. The council must also ensure that the identified school is taking admissions. The assessment is done on a case-by-case basis, and officers are trained to consider all these factors.
Households have the right to request a review if they believe an offer is not suitable. This review is undertaken by a more senior and independent member of staff and must be requested within 28 days of the decision letter. If still unsatisfied after the review, households can seek a legal appeal through the courts on a point of law. The review process itself has a guideline period of eight weeks. Grounds for a successful review could include new evidence not considered in the first instance or a fundamental flaw in the original decision-making.
Financially, the policy is projected to generate significant savings for the council. In the first year, savings are estimated at £40,000, rising to £1.92 million by 2029-30. These projections are based on an estimated 48 private rented sector offers per year, benchmarked against similar London authorities. The council estimates it will be able to make approximately 48 private rented sector offers per year, a figure presented as a strategy to reduce reliance on temporary accommodation.
In line with the Renters' Rights Act, the council will conduct checks to ensure landlords and letting agents are fit and proper persons. Under the Act, landlords and letting agents must be 'fit and proper persons'. The council will check this through landlord databases, Companies House records, and by reviewing any outstanding prosecution or criminal records. If a landlord or letting agent has flags against them, they may be prevented from being a landlord.
While the council's formal contractual relationship with landlords ends upon accommodation offer, officers will aim to maintain contact and intervene if a tenancy is at risk, as part of their prevention duty. This is to avoid the household becoming homeless again. The meeting minutes do not specify the resources allocated for this preventative duty.
Support services will be available to help households maximise their income, access welfare benefits, and find employment or additional working hours. If support is necessary for a household to sustain a tenancy, the council will provide that support or ensure they are linked with the necessary support. The expected duration and intensity of this support are not specified.
The policy is expected to be implemented immediately, as it enacts an existing power within the Housing Act 1996 and does not require further consultation, unlike changes to the council's allocations policy. The full public reports pack for the meeting can be found here.
Paul Chadwick, Executive Director of Resident Services, highlighted the broader homelessness transformation programme, stating, Our real aim is to make the whole service that much better for anyone in the borough who is at risk of homeless or who is already homeless. We're doing our level best to provide them a much more certain service, a much more helpful service, one that's not so crowded, so chaotic, frankly.
Councillor Chris Varley, Lead Member for Housing, emphasized the immediate implementation, noting, this particular policy that we're going to look at is one which is going to set the direction of travel for the Council in dealing with our temporary accommodation costs.
