A NEW scheme to alleviate homelessness and reduce West Oxfordshire's housing waiting list is set to be launched.

West Oxfordshire District Council will be at Witney's Madley Park Hall next Friday to outline the Tenancy Support Package, which encourages private landlords to work with the authority.

Landlords can find out about a range of benefits being made available to those who rent out their properties to families or people who are currently, or likely to be homeless.

As of last week there were 2,629 people on the district council's housing waiting list, but landlords who work with the authority could receive benefits including one month's rent in advance, a support line and property inspections on request.

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Chauncy Seed, the council's housing property manager, said: “We are very keen to reduce the housing waiting lists by getting people into private sector rented accommodation. There is very little social housing available and long waiting lists across our district.

"To help people get into the private sector we will need to provide financial assistance with deposits and rent advance, as this is the area which often proves a barrier for would-be tenants.

“We currently have a system where people bid for social housing and we are working on a bolt-on package to enable us to advertise private sector properties on the system and we are hoping landlords will use this opportunity to advertise free of charge on the new system when it becomes available later in the year.”

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The scheme aims to get 180 new tenancies across the partnership, meaning a budget of about £1,750 per property to incentivise landlords and tenants.

The council is part of a consortium using the government's Private Rented Sector Access Fund to help people off waiting lists and into private rented accommodation.

The event runs from 10am to 12pm.