Info for landlords

The most valuable partners that Abigail Housing has are it's landlords. However, the project desparately needs more.

Abigail Housing is interested in landlords who can offer any of the following:

  1. Properties for new refugees. Abigail Housing manages a number of properties which have Local Housing Allowance Exempt 'hostel' rents. These have a number of advantages for residents and landlords. Please call John Hebden (see contacts) if you want a more detailed discussion.
  2. Properties for more established refugees. Abigail Housing acts as a not for profit, social lettings agency for a number of it's houses - charging 10% of rental income to landlords to provide a full housing management / support service. This includes receiving direct Housing Benefit payment for at least the first 6 months of an individual's occupancy and being first point of contact for any housing managment problems. Abigail Housing can also provide an introduction service to landlords for very well established refugees.
  3. Properties at pepper corn rent for refused asylum seekers. This may be a landlord who has a property which has been empty for a long time and who simply wants someone to occupy and / or make use of it. Alternatively, it may be a landlord who shares the charities concern for destitution amongst asylum seekers and wants to give their own resources to help. The residents in this situatioin have no recouse to public funds, so Abigail Housing will not be able to raise any rent by charging the residents. Any rent paid to the landlord will be raised by the organisation through charitable giving. SInce 2007, Abigail Housing has managed a number of properties in this scheme with rent payable to the landlord varying from nil to 50% of the market rent.

Abigail Housing's experience is that it's clients generally prefer properties which are close to city centres.