"Call Before You Serve" Initiative Launched in Milton Keynes to Prevent Homelessness and Promote Stable Tenancies

Strategic Insights -

The Milton Keynes City Council has launched the "Call Before You Serve" initiative, aiming to prevent homelessness and reduce the financial and emotional cost of legal proceedings by providing early support and mediation to both landlords and tenants facing eviction. The scheme is designed to be completely free, connecting tenants to financial support and providing landlords with tailored advice on their legal responsibilities and alternative solutions. Housing professionals and frontline services can also refer clients for early support, ensuring access to rent advice, mediation, and financial help.

Key Takeaways:

  • The "Call Before You Serve" initiative offers completely free mediation to landlords and tenants facing eviction.
  • The scheme aims to prevent homelessness, reduce the financial and emotional cost of legal proceedings, and promote long-term stable tenancies.
  • Housing professionals and frontline services can refer clients for early support, ensuring access to rent advice, mediation, and financial help.
  • The city council will assess the situation, identify the reasons for the referral, and put together a plan that brings all parties together, which may include practical support such as access to financial assistance to help sustain the tenancy.
  • Cabinet member for Housing, Cllr Ed Hume, encourages both landlords and tenants to talk to the council first to prevent eviction and promote stable tenancies.
  • The online referral form is available on the MK City Council website, and the city council will work with tenants and landlords to find alternative solutions.

Statistics:

  • No specific statistics are mentioned in the article regarding the number of tenants and landlords expected to benefit from the initiative or the number of referrals received so far.
  • The council pledges to assess the situation and help find alternative accommodation if staying in the current property is not possible.
  • The initiative is designed to be completely free, connecting tenants to financial support and providing landlords with tailored advice.

Sources:

  • Knife crime soars by a third as police warn Britain is facing ' ferocious' knife epidemic (Mirror, 2022) [No relevance]
  • Milton Keynes City Council (2023) - Housing Solutions and Homelessness Advice [Source cited]
  • [No further relevant sources are provided in the original text]