Leicester city council is to buy a block of former student flats to provide temporary accommodation for single people and couples who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
The purchase of the building on York Street will bring 134 self-contained units into the council’s ownership, and will save the council £2.6m a year on the rent it currently pays to other landlords in the city.
The building will help to accommodate many of the single people in the city who are classed as having priority need, and are currently in bed and breakfast or hotel accommodation.
Built in 2019, the seven-storey building comprises of 132 self-contained, ensuite bedsits, and two one-bedroomed flats which are wheelchair accessible with large wet rooms. All of the units have fitted kitchens with integral appliances and fitted furniture. The building also has onsite laundry facilities and bike storage.
Chris Burgin, the council’s director of housing, said: “We don’t want people to be in unsuitable B&B accommodation for any length of time, but with increasing numbers of people facing homelessness we have few options available to us.
“This building will provide good quality units with cooking and washing facilities which are not available in hotels and B&Bs, and will house people for between three and 18 months before they move on to permanent accommodation.”
The council has set aside £45m to increase the supply of good quality council accommodation including family housing in the city.
Deputy city mayor Cllr Elly Cutkelvin said: “The purchase of the Yoho building is a small part of our plans to ensure that no-one has to stay in unsuitable temporary accommodation without access to the facilities they need.
“It is also part of our wider plan to provide 1,500 new affordable homes for the city by 2027, and deliver more than 1,600 new properties. All of these properties will go to those most in need.”
The cost of the purchase will be made public once the commercial deal has been finalised.
