The reluctance of private landlords to engage with councils is at the heart of the housing crisis

The result is that many residents are faced with cramped conditions, limited facilities and frequent relocations, creating ongoing instability and a sub-par standard of living.

The financial burden on local authorities has become untenable, too. Research by the Centre for Homelessness Impact reveals that net local authority expenditure on temporary accommodation more than doubled from £479m in 2018-19 to £1,058m in 2023-24 – an 80% increase in real terms.

In London alone, 33 councils spent £1.4bn on temporary housing in the year to March 2024, with Newham’s expenditure reaching £132.6m – up 36% year on year. For many local authorities, temporary accommodation costs now threaten core service delivery.

At the heart of this crisis lies a significant and often overlooked barrier: the reluctance of private landlords to engage with local authorities.

In our work with property owners across the UK, we are consistently told about previous frustration with delays in payments and complex administrative requirements. They express concerns about potential damage to property, maintenance expenses and the challenges of addressing any tenancy issues. Some fear lower returns, compared with the private market, while others have concerns about social housing stereotypes that continue to exist.

Specialist housing managers, such as Switch, are working to bridge this gap and rebuild trust, so that the private and public sector can enjoy mutually beneficial partnerships.

Historically, we worked with local authorities to provide temporary hotel accommodation, but quickly realised the urgent need to create a pathway into good-quality, stable and secure private rentals. Concerns from landlords then became apparent, with their previous experiences and perceptions meaning they were reluctant to accept council-referred tenants.

By shifting to a third-party model, where we were the conduit between both parties, we ensured that the property met a high level of compliance for safety, with weekly inspections taking place to prompt any maintenance requirements, resulting in zero property refusals in the first 12 months and 20% higher resident satisfaction rates than comparable services.

“With the expertise of specialist housing providers, regular in-depth inspections can ensure all properties are good quality and fully compliant against enhanced health and safety legislation”

Landlords benefited from guaranteed rental income and professional management services, which maximised their property’s potential without any additional letting or maintenance fees. Fully underwritten bills provided financial security and regular inspections meant that any issues were swiftly rectified. By managing the process end-to-end, we ensured the administrative burden was simplified, too.

Public and private sector partnerships should be encouraged not only for their cost-saving and administrative efficiencies, but also in their ability to help raise living standards and services for people in temporary accommodation.

With the expertise of specialist housing providers, regular in-depth inspections can ensure all properties are good quality and fully compliant against enhanced health and safety legislation, while proper collation of resident feedback can help to continually improve standards.

At the heart of the UK’s housing crisis are vulnerable families looking for a safe and secure place to call home. Through effective partnerships, we can provide people in need with long-term stability, a higher standard of living and a better foundation for the future.

John Angus, managing director, Switch Management