DENS champions TDS partnership to improve access to Private Rented Sector at local Landlord Forum

At this month’s Dacorum Borough Council Landlord Forum, local homelessness charity DENS shone a spotlight on its new partnership with the TDS Charitable Foundation. This is an initiative designed to improve access to the Private Rented Sector (PRS) for people at risk of homelessness. 

The innovative programme aims not only to help more people secure good-quality private rented homes, but to prevent homelessness before it happens – supporting both tenants and landlords for longer, more successful tenancies. 

Why the partnership is needed 

The initiative was developed in response to research by the TDS Charitable Foundation, which shows a growing crisis facing households trying to secure or remain in privately rented homes in the borough of Dacorum. 

During the Landlord Forum, Sean Fitzgerald, Head of Accommodation Services at DENS, highlighted some stark trends affecting local housing: 

• Approaches to Dacorum Borough Council at the end of private tenancies have doubled in recent years, rising from 206 in 2016 to 425 in 2023 

• A shortage of affordable social housing means vulnerable households have few alternatives if they can’t remain in the PRS 

• Rising in-work poverty and the cost-of-living crisis are squeezing household budgets, leading to arrears and evictions 

• Local Housing Allowance is failing to keep pace with rising market rents, widening the gap between what people can afford and what’s available 

  
  

These pressures are converging to make private renting increasingly unstable for low-income households – reinforcing the need for practical, local solutions.  

A new approach to solving the housing crisis locally 

The new DENS PRS project seeks to unlock access to suitable rental homes by working directly with landlords who want to play a part in tackling homelessness locally.  

Crucially, the programme doesn’t stop at access. DENS also provides ongoing tenancy sustainment support, helping individuals manage their finances, navigate challenges, and keep their homes for the long term. 

This dual emphasis – opening up homes and preventing homelessness – sets the partnership apart from many other PRS initiatives, which often focus only on crisis intervention. 

Landlords: you can be part of the solution 

Although the project is set to launch publicly in January, work is already in motion. The team is engaging landlords, securing homes, and supporting people at risk of homelessness into safe and stable tenancies. 

Sean closed the session with a call to action for local landlords: 

If you have a property in the borough of Dacorum and want to make a difference to someone’s life while benefiting from dedicated support, DENS would love to hear from you. 

For more information or to get involved, contact: Bryony Withey, Property Management Lead on 07780 295586. 

Sean Fitzgerald, Head of Accommodation Services at DENS speaking at the Dacorum Landlord Forum