A NEW scheme is being launched by Wychavon's housing team to help people find a home.

Wych Move is a new social lettings agency service designed to help those in need of re-housing, including Droitwich people who would otherwise struggle to rent privately.

Social housing has traditional been used as a way of meeting the needs of people in this situation, but demand is high.

The cost of renting privately is also soaring with a recent report by the National Housing Federation estimating the Wychavon area was the most expensive place to rent in Worcestershire with the average cost of renting home reaching £730.

The initiative has been set up in response to this need and aims to help landlords find suitable tenants, while overcoming some of the barriers residents face accessing the private rental market.

Under the scheme Wychavon’s housing officers will provide a range of services including finding and referring potential tenants to landlords, supporting landlords and residents through the tenancy process and there is also the option for the team to manage the tenancy on behalf of landlords.

Charges will be made for some of these services which would contribute towards the council’s aim to save £4 million by 2017/18.

Councillor Richard Morris, portfolio holder for economic growth and housing at the authority, said: “The launch of Wych Move is another example of how we are doing all we can to deal with the affordable housing shortage in the district.

“Wych Move will allow our housing team to use all of their experience and background knowledge to ensure we get the right people, in the right property at the right time and create tenancies which are affordable and sustainable long-term.”

For more information on the Wych Move scheme, email Sarah Cook at sarah.cook@wychavon.gov.uk or call 01386 565114.