A new contract has started that guarantees Croydon Council a supply of quality accommodation for homeless people over the next 40 years.
Three sites on London Road – with 338 units in total – will remain used as much-needed council temporary accommodation for decades to come after the council agreed a new contract on Friday.
The council will save around £5m in comparison to the previous lease by paying 30% less each year under the new deal struck with the buildings’ landlord Cheyne Social Property Impact Fund, which bought the sites in December from the previous freeholder.
The leases on all three buildings – Concord House, Sycamore House and Windsor House – had been due to expire by 2025 after the council originally took them on in 2015 and 2016 to cut its use of expensive and less suitable nightly bed and breakfast accommodation for people avoiding homelessness.
Friday’s contract means two of the buildings – Concord House and Sycamore House – now have a 40-year lease, while Windsor House’s lease has been extended by 21 years. The council has also taken over from contractors the buildings’ day-to-day management, including repairs.
“We took on these buildings to give people avoiding homelessness good-quality temporary accommodation, and this contract means that we will continue to do so.”
Councillor Alison Butler, deputy leader and cabinet member for homes, regeneration and planning
Councillor Simon Hall, cabinet member for finance and treasury, said: “This council takes pride in making sure we manage our finances well, and this longer contract with Cheyne guarantees a better deal for Croydon taxpayers by delivering an annual saving of around £450,000.”
The deal comes as part of a wider council approach to tackling homelessness in the borough, including its Gateway service that supports people affected by Government welfare reforms.
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