Medway: Council to buy 150 properties for homeless

The authority will operate the temporary accommodation

Author: Grace O'HarePublished 2nd Feb 2024

According to a local councillor, Medway Council will buy 150 properties to house families who find themselves homeless.

Cllr Naushabah Khan has said the authority will operate temporary accommodation, costing around £42million.

It is instead of paying private landlords.

Cllr Khan, who is responsible for housing and property at Medway Council, told GHR:

"Ensuring Medway families can get direct support from the council means we have more control over the quality and the standard of the accommodation people are put into.

"In the longer term it means the council has an asset.

"It also gives families more certainty. It means they can be dealing with the council, who will be dealing with them ethically and properly.

"As a council, it gives us resilience to give our residents the best possible service".

Medway Council tested the scheme in January 2023, buying 20 properties at a cost of £5.6m.

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