LANDLORDS have been offered up to £15,000 to help families at risk of becoming homeless.
Hounslow Council announced the incentive in a bid to tackle the growing demand for help with housing from those affected by soaring costs and benefits cuts.
Landlords can get up to £1,000 for housing tenants at risk of homelessness, with up to £15,000 available for work to improve the property where necessary.
The council is also offering house-seekers who are most at need help with deposits and paying rent in advance.
Councillor Steve Curran, Hounslow's cabinet member for housing, said: "With affordable housing being in such short supply it’s becoming increasingly difficult for us to find suitable temporary accommodation for local people who are eligible for help, as rent levels are being pushed up.
"We don’t want to have to move people away from their families and friends, so we are doing everything we can to tackle the problem, and these incentives for local landlords should help us meet the demand we're facing.
"We're also working hard to try to prevent people becoming homeless in the first place, and will continue to do whatever we can to prevent local families from losing their homes."
Council leaders last month agreed to house people outside the borough to cope with the growing demand, as figures showed a 50 per cent rise over the last year in the number of families from the borough living in temporary accommodation.
The council is looking for private properties of all sizes, including bed and breakfast accommodation, to ensure no one is left without a roof over their head.
For more information about the new incentives, visit landlords@hounslow.gov.uk.
