Private Sector Discharge of Duty Policy - Consultation

Background

We want your views on how we use the private rented sector to support households out of homelessness.

The number of homeless households living in temporary accommodation is at a record high. Where a household is ‘unintentionally homeless’ and in ‘priority need’ (often dependent children or medical condition/institutional background that makes them vulnerable) we are required to provide temporary accommodation (TA) until settled private or social housing can be found.

Placing families in TA, especially private Bed and Breakfast style accommodation which does not have cooking facilities, can be damaging for all members of the household and is expensive for the public purse.

Whilst the Council are taking steps to increase the supply of social/affordable housing, there is not enough for everyone who would benefit from it. We seek to increase the supply of settled housing that we can offer to households experiencing homelessness through using suitable private rented sector accommodation.

The main points of our proposed policy are:

• Wherever possible we will end a ‘main homelessness duty’ with a suitable, affordable offer of Private Rented Sector accommodation (even where the applicant would prefer social housing).
• We will seek to house people within Southend-on-Sea in the first instance. However, we will look at private rented accommodation in Rochford and Castle Point in the following circumstances:
  1. We have not been able to accommodate the household in private or social housing in Southend under the (56 day) homelessness prevention duty
  2. We have not been able to accommodate the household in private or social housing in Southend under the (56 day) homelessness relief duty
  3. Following homelessness prevention/relief duties expiring, we have accepted a main homelessness duty. The household has remained under the main homelessness duty for a further 6 months, but both parties have been unable to find suitable settled accommodation in Southend in this time.
• Whilst properties are cheaper in some other parts of the country, we will not place households further afield than Rochford/Castle Point, unless they wish to relocate.
• Unique circumstances will be considered: the above will not be appropriate for all.

Our full policy and a summary with explanations of key terms can be found in the documents on the right hand side of this page.

This survey aims to capture your views on the above and it is open for 12 weeks and closed at 5pm on 29th April 2025.