Good Place Lettings, a social enterprise lettings agency, has launched on Brick Lane in London.
The agency aims to bring more social purpose to the private rental market by managing homes for landlords at market and affordable rents, including for people receiving housing benefit.
The business was set up as a joint venture between the national homelessness charity Crisis and Homes for Good.
It provides an alternative for landlords who self-manage or use traditional letting agencies, using a property management model developed by Homes for Good in Glasgow.
Good Place Lettings manages homes for landlords who want to offer quality properties at varying rent levels, including to people on low incomes or those recovering from a housing crisis.
As a community interest company, profits are reinvested into helping people experiencing homelessness and those on low incomes find affordable homes in London.
Funding for the launch came from Lloyds Banking Group and the National Lottery Community Fund.
Ben Rayner (pictured), director at Good Place Lettings, said: “The private rented sector in London is under huge pressure from low levels of new supply which are limiting choice and pushing up rents.
“It has been very encouraging to meet and work with landlords who want to offer good quality rented homes at varying rent levels to help a wider range of renters with different backgrounds, while helping to improve standards in the rental market.
“Regulation and reforms to the private rental market are making it more complex and challenging to be a self-managing landlord, which is why some are looking to exit the market.”
Rayner added: “We offer an alternative and landlords interested in making a lasting difference to the experience of private renting in London should get in touch.”
Susan Aktemel, founder of Homes for Good, said: “At its heart, Good Place Lettings is a values-led business, just like Homes for Good, driven by a determination to make the rental sector a thriving market where both tenants and landlords get what they need.
“We are delighted to bring our model to the London market.
“The team are committed to building a reputation as the go-to agency in London for landlords who want their property rented out easily and ethically, and for tenants who want an affordable home from an agency they can trust.”
Matt Downie, CEO of Crisis, said: “Good Place Lettings is a truly exciting new initiative. It shows that the private rented sector can and should be a place where people on low incomes, or facing homelessness, can build a life with a safe and secure home.
“With such a severe shortage of social housing, it’s vital that we have an inclusive private rented sector that provides good quality, genuinely affordable homes.
“Without this, we’ll see homelessness continue to rise and more people stuck in shoddy temporary accommodation.”
Downie added: “As we work to tackle the exclusionary practices that have left too many people without a settled home, it’s terrific to see Good Place Lettings open for business.”
