ALL key workers in Cornwall offered help to find somewhere to live
Camel and Homequest Lettings in Truro have been sourcing affordable rentals for NHS staff and are now expanding the scheme
Last updated 31st Jan 2022
A campaign helping to find affordable rental homes for NHS staff in Cornwall has now opened up to all key workers.
Camel and Homequest Lettings in Truro has been teaming up with other estate agents to tackle the problem.
They are asking anyone with an empty property to get in touch to see if they can work out short or long term lets for NHS staff and now all key workers in need of homes in Cornwall.
They have had 19 inquiries in the space of a few days of expanding and the scheme has now identified over 100 workers in need looking for affordable rental accommodation in the Duchy.
But Boss Phil Norgan is warning this is just the tip of the iceberg.
He told us: "We've now opened it up for key workers across the whole of Cornwall, we're trying to find them accommodation as well, they have a similar problem to NHS staff in so much as they can't just drop everything and go and view a property the minute they get an alert on their phone because they're in a school, they're in social care, they're a council worker, whatever the case may be.
"There is nothing better than giving the keys to someone who genuinely deserves it and can come home every night to a nice warm property with a lockable front door and their own bed, not someone's sofa that they're kipping on for the night.
"We need dozens of what we now call socially-conscious landlords to come forward."
How does it work?
Camel and Homequest Lettings are asking for anyone with an empty property to come forward and see if they can put NHS or key worker staff into it, either on a six-month short term let over the winter or something more permanent.
They are asking local estate agents who have properties they know they won’t sell until Spring 2022 to contact their clients and ask a similar question.
They are also appealing to New Homes developers and investors who maybe in the process of selling or buying investment properties to put NHS staff at the top of their lists for tenants.
Phil added: "If a landlord comes onboard, it is on the understanding that we will offer a reduced monthly rent to an NHS worker. In return, we will discount our management fee by 25% for the year.
"We are also working with RCHT and will post any properties, exclusively, on their closed Facebook page for 48 hours before uploading to the portals."
You can contact Camel Management and Homequest Lettings here.