PRIVATE landlords have been called on to help meet housing needs.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has launched a new service to help residents access affordable private rented housing.

Councillor Christine Warner, cabinet member for homes, planning and safer communities, said: “Many residents in Cheshire West and Chester are facing difficult times and the housing market is tough for people.

“Housing is a basic need and we want to make sure that everyone has a place to call home.

“We cannot solve housing issues through social housing alone.”

Competition for affordable rental accommodation in the borough is high and loss of a private rent is one of the main causes of homelessness.

The new Private Rented Sector (PRS) Service aims to increase the supply of quality affordable private rented housing for singles, couples and families in need of housing.  

The PRS Service will also help those at risk of losing their private rented tenancy and try to prevent evictions, through mediation and interventions to address tenancy issues.

Meanwhile, it will offer landlords a free tenant matching service putting forward a choice of tenants who are ‘Tenancy Ready’ with the skills and ability to maintain a successful and sustainable tenancy.

Landlords will also be provided with gratuities of up to £500 and other incentives.

The council also runs a Landlords Forum to work with private sector landlords to help meet housing needs in the borough.

“There are many good landlords in Cheshire West and Chester and we are proud to work with landlords and agents providing quality homes already through our Landlords Forum, and are looking forward to working with even more landlords with our new offer of the PRS Service,” councillor Warner added.

“At the same time, we will continue to tackle landlords who are not meeting the required standards in providing quality safe housing for residents.

“In providing an attractive offer to landlords, building relationships, and providing tenancy support, we want to encourage more landlords to work with the council to help those in need of housing to find a suitable, safe and affordable home.”

The Landlords Forum, organised in partnership with the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), takes place at 5pm on Thursday (November 21) at Ellesmere Port Civic Hall.