Property owners struggling to let their empty homes are being asked to work with local charities and Reading Borough Council to meet demand for housing.
As part of Reading’s Empty Homes Strategy, the Council puts owners of empty homes in touch with people and agencies wishing to buy, lease or rent these properties.
Reading Single Homeless Project and The Forgotten British Gurkha are two organisations that have asked Reading Borough Council to help find much needed homes to buy or rent for their clients.
Both agencies support vulnerable people as they get a foot on the housing ladder and gain some stability in their lives.
Deborah Edwards, Lead Councillor for Housing, said: "As with towns all over the country, Reading does have a number of homes that are empty and need investment so they can be brought back into use. By contacting the Council or these agencies, you may be able to get more from your home, while helping people in housing need find a place to live."
Another way the Council assists in helping people find a home is through its Deposit Guarantee Scheme, for people who need to find private rented accommodation but can’t afford a deposit.
The Council works with landlords and provides a guarantee to them in place of a cash deposit up to the value of one month’s rent.
Reading Borough Council’s learning disabilities team meanwhile, is looking for a number of homes for people with a learning disability to live in.
Ideally, the properties should be family sized so that two or more people can live together and share the facilities.
To let your home to people with a learning disability via the Council, call Bryony Hall on 01189 390361.
The Deposit Guarantee Scheme team is available on 0118 939 0233.
The Reading Single Homeless Project contact is Ian Caren on (0118) 950 7656 or info@rshp.co.uk
Paul Keddie is the contact at The Forgotten British Gurkha on (0845) 003 9958 or enquiries@theforgottenbritishgurkha.co.uk
For details on empty homes in Reading, call the empty homes officer on (0118) 9373091.
Reading Borough Council
