Salix Homes has introduced a new online tool to advertise ‘ready to let’ social housing properties in Salford and Trafford in a bid to reduce homelessness in the region.
The tool enables home-seekers to move into a property immediately without having to wait to get to the top of the housing waiting list, which can often take years.
Mike Wright, head of housing choice, Salix Homes, said, “By introducing this new way of working, it’s a win-win situation for both tenants and housing providers. People who are considered to be of ‘low housing need’ can wait years for a home, but with this new system, there’s no bidding process and properties are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Not only is it helping to reduce the number of empty homes in the area, but it’s also helping to reduce homelessness, create social mobility and minimise costs to the public purse. And landlords know that they can re-let their properties immediately to reduce the cost of voids.”
The ‘ready to let’ properties include homes that might have previously been refused by potential home-seekers under the ordinary choice-based lettings system or homes that may have been recently vacated and the landlord is keen to ensure the property doesn’t stand empty.
