Unipol taking part in Government’s Private Rented Sector Pathfinder Scheme

01/10/2024

Unipol Student Homes is part of a new initiative to support landlords to offer a great service to tenants and keep their properties well maintained. The Pathfinder Project was set up by the Government to fund innovation in the private rented sector, and Leeds successfully won funding for a project to look at new ways to help landlords keep up with changing tenant expectations and requirements.

Over the coming months, Leeds landlords will be invited to use these new tools to promote and encourage effective management. The tools will focus on:

• Encouraging landlords to visit their property to carry out basic checks
• Identifying hazards in the home
• Getting tenancies off to a good start

We will also be doing some research to understand how accreditation can be better adapted to the needs of landlords.

What is this about?
The Government set up a Pathfinder Project, inviting organisations to bid for funding to look at innovative ways to improve the private rented sector. The Leeds Rental Standard, which is supported by Leeds City Council and of which Unipol and the National Residential Landlords Association are both members, successfully bid for funding to run a pilot project.

With our history of accreditation and working together with landlords, Unipol was keen to explore positive new ways to support landlords, and so these new experimental tools have been designed to make a difference in how landlords go about day-to-day management.

Why should I take part?
We want to encourage new and established landlords to take part in the project and use these new tools which will help you run an effective business in challenging times. The project will be evaluated and the outcomes reported to the Government, who may then roll the projects out further if they are effective.

When can I take part?
The projects will be rolled out between October 2024 and January 2025, so watch out for Pathfinder updates from Unipol.

If you have any questions please contact Matt Allison, Accreditation Officer on m.allison@unipol.org.uk