The scheme paying Cornwall landlords to help ease the housing crisis

A spare flat above a shop. A cottage sitting empty between lets. A house too big for the family that once filled it. Cornwall Council wants to hear from the owners of properties like these, because it says finding a home in Cornwall has become one of the hardest parts of daily life for a lot of local people.

What the Landlord Incentive Scheme offers

The council’s Private Letting Service runs a Landlord Incentive Scheme aimed at bringing more properties into long-term rental use for people who live and work locally. Financial incentives may be available for landlords who can offer suitable accommodation, alongside ongoing support once a tenancy is up and running.

Every property is assessed individually. The council says it is looking for suitable homes across Cornwall that can help meet local housing need, and landlords who are unsure whether theirs would qualify are encouraged to get in touch for an informal chat rather than rule themselves out.

More than just the money

The council is pitching the service as something different from a typical high street letting agent. Landlords who sign up get help finding suitable tenants, one-to-one support for those tenants throughout the tenancy, and early intervention if problems start to appear.

That last point comes from a dedicated team of Tenancy Sustainment Officers, whose job is to step in before a small issue turns into a bigger one. The council says this hands-on approach, working with both sides rather than just the landlord, is what it thinks makes the service worth using over a private agency.

There’s also help understanding the rules. Letting a property has got more complicated in recent years, and the service offers guidance on navigating changes such as the Renters’ Rights Act and other government changes to rental law, plus the option of a fuller property management service for landlords who want to step back from the day-to-day.

Who the council is looking for

The scheme isn’t fussy about scale. Cornwall Council says it wants to talk to anyone with one property or a whole portfolio, with no obligation attached to an initial conversation. Much of the work is about matching people moving on from temporary accommodation into long-term homes in the community, building tenancies the council describes as sustainable for both sides.

One testimonial on the Cornwall Council page reads simply: “I’ve had nothing but good experiences at every stage of it all.”

Getting in touch

Landlords interested in finding out more, including whether a particular property would be suitable and what incentives might apply, can call the Private Lets Team on 01872 324342 or email [email protected].

📷Young man surprising his wife or a girl with new a apartment.