Council Company Buys Homes for Homeless Families

A property company established by a London borough council to provide temporary homes at sub-market rents to people who would otherwise find themselves in expensive emergency accommodation has let out its first purchased property. Housing Gateway, established by Enfield Council, has presented the keys to the house to a homeless family; the family is said to be “happy and relieved” to have been moved to a “safe new temporary home”. The council said it is determined that Housing Gateway builds up a portfolio of properties that can be let at sub market rents to families who would otherwise be housed in emergency accommodation, sometimes in other boroughs, and at “considerable” cost to the council. Read more on the Housing Excellence website.