A Southampton-based lettings agency is expanding its homelessness prevention programme to Bournemouth and Portsmouth after securing 532 tenancies for homeless households in the past year.
SDM Property, led by director Mark Vine, operates a model that connects private landlords with councils to provide settled accommodation for people living in temporary or emergency housing. The agency has recently taken on approximately 10 units in Bournemouth and three in Portsmouth as part of its expansion.
Council partnerships
The scheme has received support from East Hampshire District Council and New Forest District Council. It aims to reduce local authority expenditure on temporary accommodation by facilitating tenancies with private landlords who might otherwise avoid letting to benefit recipients.
“We’re a business and this has to work for the landlord as well as the tenant,” Vine said. “But we’ve discovered that an agent can use its relationships with landlords and councils to solve some very real problems in its community.”
The initiative addresses local homelessness cases, including families housed in hotels due to a lack of affordable rental properties and individuals facing sudden displacement when landlords sell their properties. The approach differs from migrant accommodation schemes, focusing instead on residents already within the community.
Market context
The expansion comes as rental supply contracts across various UK markets, creating additional pressure on households seeking affordable accommodation. The private rented sector continues to face challenges, with some landlords exiting the market due to regulatory changes and tax pressures.
SDM Property is now seeking landlords in Southampton, Bournemouth, Portsmouth and surrounding areas who have suitable properties available for the scheme. The agency positions the model as financially viable for landlords whilst addressing council housing obligations.
“The private rented sector can’t solve homelessness on its own,” Vine said. “But there are good landlords with homes and local families who desperately need them. If agents and councils can bring more of those people together, everybody benefits – including the taxpayer.”
The scheme represents one approach to addressing temporary accommodation costs for local authorities, though broader challenges in the UK housing market continue to affect availability and affordability across the rental sector.
