Peer Landlord
A supportive shared housing pilot aimed at addressing the housing needs of single people facing homelessness or housing insecurity, running from 2012 to 2018.
In partnership with:
Why was the project needed?
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Many people who are homeless, or are at risk of becoming homeless, are capable of independent living. Despite aiming to find sustainable employment, education or training, a lack of affordable accommodation can mean individuals find themselves sofa surfing or even rough sleeping. This cohort is often funnelled into supported housing or hostels, which may offer intensive support they don’t need or environments that aren’t conducive to finding work and getting on with life.
The Housing Solution
Peer Landlord tested a model of shared housing that combined genuine affordability and stability for single homeless people with low support needs. Crucially, it sought to establish a supportive – not supported – housing environment for those with lower general needs who are ready to live independently.
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The peer landlord held responsibility for basic housing management, acting as the link between the household and the property manager, as well as providing informal peer support to housemates.​ The model was designed to cultivate a degree of peer response to other support needs within the house, providing a supportive safety net if needed. ​​
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Project outcomes
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Peer Landlord's pilot ran for five years, trialling its approach in 13 properties (and 44 bed spaces) across London.
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Evaluation of the pilot found a timely ‘peer landlord’ intervention helped prevent homelessness among groups overrepresented in the rough sleeping population, such as care leavers and people coming out of prison.
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By providing a supportive rather than supported housing structure, tenants were effectively able to remain in education, employment or training.
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“I enjoy the role and it makes me feel good to be able to help others and look after a household – after all this is what life is about! This role has given me extra confidence and new skills. I am glad I took it on.”
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Seyi*, a Peer Landlord​​
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Key Learnings:
​When the Peer Landlord model was developed in 2012, the provision of shared housing in the social sector was limited. As such, the project was designed to offer a 'supportive' shared accommodation solution for single homeless individuals, filling the gap between supported housing and the private rented sector.
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The final evaluation of the Peer Landlord scheme, published in 2018, found it was successful in addressing the current challenges of homelessness and housing needs.
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Positive impacts from the Peer Landlord model include:
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Testing of the model found it can be an effective preventative option if people can be identified before slipping into the usual pathway of hostels or other forms of homeless accommodation.
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Tenants highlighted that involving a peer - someone with similar lived experience – as a key element of the supportive approach, and providing good quality and affordable housing with a community ethos, enabled them to sustain tenancies whilst in low-paid employment. This, in turn, nurtured individuals' confidence, general well-being, and resilience among tenants, resulting in higher levels of engagement in employment, education and training compared to other housing pathway options.
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Many single homeless people desire their own place but often lack the skills to manage a tenancy. By assisting them with living independently, the Peer Landlord scheme enabled tenants to become more self-assured with managing bills, reporting repairs, and handling other aspects of tenancy management.
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Young tenants, many of whom were care leavers, also reported that the independence and responsibility provided by the project was crucial to their personal growth.
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The Commonweal Peer Landlord Model: A Replication Learning Guide outlines key valuable insight from five years of the Peer Landlord pilot, including lessons around income collection, selection of tenants, encouraging move on from the project and, crucially, what it means to be supportive. Read this guide below.
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Harry's story
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“After a childhood of 49 foster homes, aged 16 I moved into a council flat. In 2008 my pregnant girlfriend and I moved into private rented sector accommodation but sadly our relationship broke down. At the same time my employment contract ended.​ I was defined as ‘non-priority homeless’ so I sofa-surfed until becoming street homeless in April 2012 when I was just 22.
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“With prompt intervention from the police and the London Street Rescue (LSR) team at Thames Reach I received practical advice to find accommodation and work. I moved into a hostel for a few months before being referred to the Peer Landlord project, which provides role model peer-support to those moving on from hostels in a supportive accommodation setting.
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“I have signed two tenancies for my new home, one as tenant, the second as peer landlord. I enjoy being peer landlord. My responsibilities are so varied. I have motivated my flatmates to agree to sign up for a telephone landline and wi-fi internet and, following my research, we now use a cheaper utility supplier. I communicate with Thames Reach regularly about repairs and I have successfully reminded a flatmate to clear his rent arrears or face the consequences. I am looking forward to attending training that Thames Reach will arrange for all the peer landlords to help them in their role.
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“Alongside my move into the Peer Landlord property, which is provided by Commonweal, Thames Reach staff helped me gain employment at Tesco by advising on my CV, informing me about suitable job vacancies and paying towards the cost of photo ID.
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“Only now that I am in secure accommodation and employed can I make plans for my future, which include getting a full driving licence and training to be a paramedic.”
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*Names have been changed
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