A route out of homelessness: Inside the DENS Private Rental Scheme
For the TDS Charitable Foundation, strong partnerships are essential to turning research into practical support for renters. Our work with DENS, the local homelessness charity in Dacorum, Hertfordshire, where TDS is based, combines evidence, local knowledge and frontline expertise to help people facing homelessness find and keep a private rented home.
At a recent session for TDS staff, DENS and TDS shared how research helped shape the Private Rental Scheme and how it works in practice. Bryony Withey, Property Management Lead at DENS, discussed the team’s day-to-day work, achievements and lessons, while Rosemary Rich, Policy and Research Officer at TDS, explained the research behind its design. Their talk is summarised below.
Why was the Private Rental Scheme needed?
Rosemary: Losing a private tenancy was a leading cause of homelessness locally. Council data showed the number of people approaching as homeless or at risk after a private tenancy ended rose from 205 in 2021 to 495 in 2023. The research also identified a growing group of people who were “just about managing”: often working, but one unexpected cost could put their home at risk. Despite the range of local support available, take-up among private renters was low, revealing a gap the scheme could fill.
How did this evidence inform the scheme?
Rosemary: With around 6,000 people on the local housing register and a shortage of social housing, the private rented sector (PRS) remains essential. Yet high rents, deposits, rent in advance, credit checks and affordability tests can make it difficult to access – particularly for people experiencing homelessness.
The findings led to a scheme with two connected aims: preventing homelessness from existing private tenancies and helping people experiencing homelessness enter the sector. That led to two complementary roles – a Property Management Lead (Bryony) working with landlords, and a Key Worker (Kaycee) helping clients secure and sustain a home. The scheme can also pay deposits and rent in advance within 24 hours, removing two key barriers to renting.
How did the scheme get off the ground?
Bryony: When I first started, it wasn’t really a case of taking over an existing role. It was very much about building something from the ground up. I began by approaching local letting agencies, identifying potential partners and explaining the work DENS does. One of the biggest hurdles was that many of our clients would not pass standard affordability checks or credit referencing processes. Local data also showed that many landlords were reluctant to rent to people claiming state benefits because rental payments were made in arrears, which created additional concerns around income security and rent payment reliability. To find solutions, I approached Crisis for advice. They connected me with Good Place Lettings, which in turn introduced us to a referencing company called Husmus. That partnership proved to be a real breakthrough and helped open doors that had previously been closed to many of our clients.
How have partnerships helped open doors with landlords?
Bryony: Partnership working has been absolutely key. Husmus was a real door-opener – working with a specialist referencing provider means income such as Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment can be considered, rather than relying only on traditional earnings. Where a client passes the assessment, a 12-month rent guarantee can offer landlords additional reassurance.
We’ve established a really good relationship with the homelessness prevention team at Dacorum Borough Council who process applications for a deposit and rent upfront.
We’ve worked with company landlords whose model is based around Universal Credit applicants, but we’re also trying to build stronger links with private landlords and local letting agencies, encouraging fair market rents and sustainable tenancies. This will help us to widen the range of homes available.
How do you prepare and support tenants to succeed in their new homes?
Bryony: Prevention is just as important as crisis intervention, so we don’t want to put someone into a property before we really understand their needs. We’ve introduced a three-month engagement rule, which helps us identify the support they may need. We also run life-skills sessions covering cooking, cleaning and basic tenancy expectations, helping people prepare to sustain their new home.
Kaycee’s tenancy sustainment and prevention role is incredibly important. Before a move, she gathers the financial records and identification needed for Right to Rent checks and council funding, helping clients obtain documents where necessary. On moving day, she helps arrange housing payments and utilities. Support then continues through regular visits and practical help, including attending appointments, identifying problems early and checking that the tenancy is on track. The aim is to build independence without leaving people to cope alone.
What has the scheme achieved so far, and what’s your favourite part of the job?
Bryony: Our target in the first year was just a few tenancies and we’re now at 24, which is fantastic. My favourite part of my job is handing the keys over. That’s the best bit: move-on day, because they never thought they’d see it coming. It’s a really lovely feeling when they get their own keys.