In our response to the Portsmouth Local Plan, we highlighted the lack of a strategy to bring existing housing stock up to current standards and the high rents locally which can be attributed to local policies. We also worried that the support for co-living at the expense of HMOs was at best misguided and at worst, would have even more damaging effects on local rent levels. 

PDPLA Comments on Local Authority Responsibilities Picked Up In the Press 

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From time to time we are approached by the housing options team in many of our local authoritys, charities, parole groups and others seeking to house applicants who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Each approach varies, but the typical story will be that you are trying to build links with private landlords who are willing to consider referrals, from your charity or service. Normally from either single applicants or families struggling to find housing in the private rental sector (but seldom couples, by the way).  As we see this situation so often - we thought it appropriate to lay out some guidance for all parties.

Given that such tenants are 30x more likely to default, we argue for mandatory rent guarantee insurance paid for the duration of the tenancy by the local authority or introducing agency.

A national survey has placed Portsmouth as the 7^th cheapest place in the country for students and the most affordable in the South East – affordability is calculated by dividing living costs by average monthly income, and as Portsmouth rates highly for student earning potential in the local community, that does improve Portsmouth's affordability ranking significantly but, the very low private sector rents are also significant.

Members will know that the PDPLA and councillors on the Planning Committee have sometimes disagreed. Well, good news this month as the Planning Inspectorate highlight the fact that Southern Water have a responsibility to handle sewage and a 7-bed HMO in Copnor will not risk overloading the system.