The End Furniture Poverty organisation claims the social housing sector has lessons to learn from the private rented sector over the use of furnished tenancies.
While furnished tenancies are commonplace in the private sector, they are rarely found in social housing, except for the care sector where higher levels of tenancy support are required.
The EFP wants to find out the reasons for the different approaches to furnished tenancies by the private and social sectors, by undertaking a research exercise exploring the attitudes of both tenants and landlords.
The first part of the research project is a mapping exercise to establish the extent to which furnished tenancies are provided throughout the country – with an online survey now available.
A second stage sees in-depth interviews with a variety of housing professionals to better understand their attitudes toward furnished tenancies.
EFP also plans several focus groups with social housing tenants to ensure all viewpoints are included.
Reinforcing the research is the step-by-step Furnished Tenancy Guide: How to set up a sustainable furnished tenancy scheme, outlining the benefits of such schemes to landlords and tenants, including advice on funding, service charges, and what furniture to include.
The End Furniture Poverty campaign is part of the FRC Group, a group of registered charities and social businesses based in Liverpool and operating nationally.
The online survey is available to housing professionals at surveymonkey.co.uk/r/J3KRXZN
By Patrick Mooney, Editor