A new partnership has been formed by Moray Council and neighbouring Highland Council aimed at helping people find suitable private rental properties.
Funding from the Scottish Government and a partnership with LocalPad has seen the creation of a new North and Islands Property Finder website, which will provide a free advertising and information service for landlords.
LocalPad, founding in 1999, is now the market leader in the provision of accommodation management systems for the public sector.
The website – www.northandislandspropertyfinder.co.uk – will go live on Monday and is hoped will encourage more landlords to work with both Moray and Highland Councils in helping to provide a supply of good quality accommodation while reducing their marketing costs.
Potential tenants will be able to use the site to access available properties in one convenient place, while they will also be able to contact landlords directly by phone, email or through the site – helping landlords to reduce the time their properties stand empty.
Tenants will also be able to access advice and information on helping them to sustain their tenancy as well as money and debt advice.
Lloyd Cowburn, managing director of LocalPad, said: ‘We are delighted to be working with Moray and Highland on their LocalPad site.
“We are confident that the online property finder will help increase landlord engagement with everyone associated with Highland and Moray Councils and offer landlords a free service to advertise their properties.”
The chairman of the Scottish Association of Landlords, Stephen Peasnall, welcomed the initiative to work with the private sector in providing housing options for the many people seeking accommodation.
He said: “From a landlord’s point of view, the opportunity to advertise vacant property, together with photographs, free of charge represents a strong marketing advantage, as does the knowledge that vulnerable tenants will be offered advice and practical help to ensure they sustain their tenancies in a satisfactory manner.
“I know this scheme has been very effective in other parts of the UK and I look forward to a positive reaction in Moray and the Highlands.”