PRESS RELEASE :
11/05/2022, Southampton, UK: South coast property experts, Charters’ Lettings division has been accredited by a pioneering training initiative to help people living across Hampshire and Surrey with disabilities secure a home to rent. Charters is the first lettings agent outside London to be accredited by The Accessible Lettings Scheme.
As the private lettings sector continues to remain buoyant across all regions in the renowned Charters network, its private rental specialists have backed the Accessible Lettings Scheme as part of a concerted drive to make life easier for applicants living with disabilities and older people with mobility problems.
The Accessible Lettings Scheme was launched by AccessiblePRS in collaboration with Enham Trust, a disability charity, in late 2021. The initiative is designed to remove the barriers that those with disabilities face when trying to access the private rented sector (PRS), particularly the lack of clear access information on property and agency websites.
Guy Harris, Director of AccessiblePRS explains why changes to the way lettings agents market their properties are so critical:
‘There are 1.8m people in the UK today who are living with accessibility needs, of which 700,000 are in the top half of income demographics,’ explains Guy. ‘Of the 1.2m wheelchair users in the UK, 400,000 are living in unsuitable properties. A reported nine out of ten experience difficulties accessing the PRS – it takes many over a year to find workable, not suitable, accommodation. Add to that an ageing population that will see 1 in 4 aged over 65 by 2036 and it’s easy to recognise the urgency with which the industry must adapt its processes to address the needs of disabled and older renters.’
A challenge all estate agents must address
Access requirements may include features including step-free access, handrails, wet rooms, wider doors for wheelchair access and level access throughout the property or at least one bedroom on the entry level. Providing clear information online levels the playing field for disabled renters – and that is the task for all estate agents to address.
‘Part of the challenge for disabled renters is to be able to filter properties that may be accessible,’ says Guy. ‘Incorporating functionality on property details with appropriate photographs, video tours and flour plans that include the essential details they need, as standard, will make the agents’ marketing process more inclusive. We call this ‘the 3am test’ – it’s designed to ensure renters have access to all the information they need to decide on a property while viewing it online at 3am and without having to contact an estate agent for more details.’
Suzanne Diamond is Lettings Director at Charters and is proud her teams are leading the charge when it comes to changing the private rented sector culture and making it easier to for tenants with specialist housing needs to find suitable properties to rent.
‘The current private rental sector is still in the midst of an unparalleled lack of stock and heightened demand,’ Suzanne explained. ‘This means every property to let, regardless of price bracket, is secured quickly, leaving many disappointed. Applicants with accessible housing requirements who are unable to source the information they need to make a decision on a suitable home quickly are clearly at a disadvantage.
‘We’re determined to remove these barriers. Charters’ Lettings specialists are now being trained and accredited by the Accessible Lettings Scheme to ensure we can offer the support and information that’s so desperately needed by prospective tenants as they embark on their property search. We’re committed to providing clear information about properties online that will pass the 3am test, make properties easily searchable online by using filters and key phrases and, crucially, ensuring our lettings specialist have a thorough understanding of disabled renters’ needs.’
To register to find your own wheelchair accessible home, please visit accessibleprs.co.uk/accessible-letting-scheme.
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