A landlords story...

Malcolm Wood, Kings Lynn, Norfolk

Background

Malcolm Wood is a landlord who lets properties through the SmartMove scheme in Kings Lynn. The scheme is operated by the Purfleet Resettlement service, a small Norfolk-based homelessness charity. Here is his story.

“I am a landlord in West Norfolk and used a local agent to collect rents, find new tenants and manage the properties generally. Three years ago I was asked to cast my eye over the Purfleet Resettlement Service's accounting records. There wasn't anything fundamentally wrong with the records, just that they were not departmentalised to match expenses against specific grant income.”

“At that time the Purfleet Resettlement Service had three main divisions; the management of residential accommodation for homeless people in West Norfolk, housing advice for non-priority homeless people and the operation of the Crisis SmartMove scheme.”

Malcolm's first deposit scheme tenants...

"In the early part of 2007 I was having trouble finding a tenant for a one bedroom flat. Coincidentally Aileen who runs the SmartMove scheme said that she was looking for a one bedroom flat for one of Purfleet's clients. I told her that I had a vacant property but was wary about taking someone on who was receiving housing benefit and how were they going to afford a deposit."

"Aileen asked if I had considered the SmartMove scheme. I had to admit that I had not; when it was explained that the deposit was bonded by our local council and that the tenant would be supervised by Ailen I had to agree that Smart Move was a good scheme.”

Continuing to work with the deposit scheme...

“I now have two SmartMove tenants and will move further properties onto this scheme when they become vacant.” Malcolm was so impressed with the Purfleet Resettlement Service that he now works as the Chair for their Board of Trustees.