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Landlords, are you worried about your property?

Landlords play a big part in preventing homelessness in Dorset. 

Around 16% of properties in the Dorset Council area are privately rented and around 12% are let by social housing providers. 

We understand that landlord-tenant relationships don’t always run smoothly, so we have invested in training staff in the Housing Options team, who can help both parties if any issues arise. 

Our tenancy sustainment and landlord liaison officers are here to help overcome tenancy-related issues.

If you are a landlord or agent who:
  • is considering serving notice
  • has an ongoing tenant dispute that is not resolving
  • has a tenant in rent arrears
  • has a tenant who needs extra support to manage their tenancy
  • is considering increasing the rent
  • is considering selling
  • has an empty property that needs tenanting
Get in touch with us by calling 01305 221000 and pressing option 4. Or email us at housinghelp@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk. 

We also have a team of landlord liaison officers who support landlords to: 
  • source tenants for properties 
  • arrange new lets 
  • navigate tenancy challenges 
  • advise and signpost landlords about their property compliance
If you would like to find out about our Key4Me offer to landlords or would like to join our growing network of landlords, contact our Landlord Liaison team. 

Help for tenants

We have Tenancy Sustainment Officers (TSOs) who can help tenants navigate their housing-related issues and keep them in their home where appropriate/applicable.

We have collaborated with charities Citizens Advice and Shelter to provide support for anyone who is worried about losing their home.  
 
There is more information about the free services we offer through the Housing Advice line.

Testimonials from our landlords and tenants

"As a Housing Options Officer in the Housing Sector myself, I know how hard and challenging it can be, so therefore I feel that it is important that I give credit where it is deserved and this credit goes to both Hollie Docherty (Tenancy Sustainment Officer) and Elizabeth McLoughlin (Landlord Liaison Officer).

I have recently been on the receiving end of being threatened with homelessness and have experienced how stressful and anxious it can be, however both Hollie and Elizabeth have been absolutely wonderful in helping and supporting me in securing a new home and they have helped considerably in taking a lot of this stress, anxiety and worry off my shoulders.

Hollie and Elizabeth have been very emphatic, compassionate, kind and professional at all times and have always responded promptly to my questions, concerns and worries even though I know and appreciate how busy they are and I would just like to express what a huge asset they have been to me and to yourselves."
"I just wanted to email you, I've been to the new property and I literally couldn't believe how nice it was I was quite speechless, I'm beyond happy we both are! After not seeing it until yesterday for the first time I got quite emotional, property is absolutely fantastic, so I want to say my biggest thank you for all your support and helping me through the hard times."
"I am happy to read that the issues at our property are being addressed. I will be emailing Lizzie as she has kindly offered to support me with a few issues I am having.

All went well with the move and please pass on my thanks to Lizzie for her assistance. Am pleased to learn that the family are pleased with the house.

This must be a huge relief, to now be close to work and schooling for their son.

Funds have now been received, so thank you."
"We have been working closely with Dorset Council Housing Team for about 5 years now. 
 
Recently, with the introduction of the Key4Me Scheme and more importantly the role of LLO; it’s all been extremely positive and has increased relationships and communications. 
 
They have helped us with sourcing tenants, moving them in and dealing with any issues that may arise in property and made rent payments and benefits guidance so much easier. 
 
My LLO even sorted missing bins for a newly acquired property of ours…..  
 
We must also say that the TSO traditionally have also been a source of support and we appreciate their workload… 

We must also comment on the smooth process of offering a choice of potential tenants… 
 
The process from introduction to acceptance of tenants, to then a full inventory, tenancy writing to providing a bond, all a very good system and saves us an awful lot of time and paperwork."
"A big big thank you for dealing with the tenancy so brilliantly.  If you match all your other clients up so well, there must be a lot of happy people!  I hope your department appreciate what an efficient job you are doing."
"As a Housing Options Officer in the Housing Sector myself, I know how hard and challenging it can be, so therefore I feel that it is important that I give credit where it is deserved and this credit goes to both Hollie Docherty (Tenancy Sustainment Officer) and Elizabeth McLoughlin (Landlord Liaison Officer).

I have recently been on the receiving end of being threatened with homelessness and have experienced how stressful and anxious it can be, however both Hollie and Elizabeth have been absolutely wonderful in helping and supporting me in securing a new home and they have helped considerably in taking a lot of this stress, anxiety and worry off my shoulders.

Hollie and Elizabeth have been very emphatic, compassionate, kind and professional at all times and have always responded promptly to my questions, concerns and worries even though I know and appreciate how busy they are and I would just like to express what a huge asset they have been to me and to yourselves."
"I just wanted to email you, Ive been to the new property and I literally couldn't believe how nice it was, I was quite speechless, I'm beyond happy we both are!

After not seeing it until yesterday for the 1st time I got quite emotional.

Property is absolutely fantastic, so I want to say my biggest thank you for all your support and helping me through the hard times."
"We must also comment on the smooth process of offering a choice of potential tenants with a quite correctly small amount of background to each family. Allowing us to make a decision on suitability, as we want our tenants to remain with us for the future with as least challenges as possible.

The process from Introduction to Acceptance of Tenants, to then a Full Inventory, Tenancy Writing to Providing Bond, all a very good system and saves us an awful lot of time and paperwork."
"I am happy to read that the issues at the street are being addressed. I will be emailing Lizzie some information through as she has kindly offered to support me with a few issues I am having."
"All went well with the move and please pass on my thanks to Lizzie for her assistance.

Am pleased to learn that the family are pleased with the house. This must be a huge relief, to now be close to work and schooling for their son."
"We have been working closely with Dorset Council Housing Team for about 5 years now.

Recently with the introduction of the Key4Me Scheme and more importantly the role of LLO has been extremely positive and has increased relationship and communications making sourcing of tenants, moving them in and dealing with any issues that may arise in property and with rent payments and benefits guidance so much easier.

My LLO even sorted missing bins for a newly acquired property of ours. We must also say that the TSO traditionally have also been a source of support and we appreciate their workload with foremost dealing with the proposed tenants some challenging rather than the landlords so the introduction of LLO is a positive and welcomed change."