A letting scheme to help tenants find social housing in Salford and Trafford has launched a new facility, which will help tackle homelessness in the region.

Salford and Trafford Home Search, an online tool which advertises social housing available in the area, has recently introduced ‘ready to let’ properties.

The move enables home-seekers to move into a property immediately without having to wait to get to the top of the housing waiting list – which can often take years.

Mike Wright, head of housing choice at Salix Homes, which manages the service, said: “By introducing this new way of working it’s a win-win situation for both tenants and landlords.

“People who are considered to be of ‘low housing need’ can be waiting years for a home, but with this new system there’s no bidding process and properties are allocated on a first come, first serve basis.

“Not only is it helping to reduce the number of homes stood empty in the area, but crucially it’s helping to reduce homelessness, create social mobility and reduce costs to the public purse. And landlords know that they can re-let their properties immediately to reduce their void costs.”

‘Ready to let’ properties include homes that may have previously been refused by potential home-seekers under the ordinary lettings system – known as Choice Based Lettings – or homes that may have been recently vacated and the landlord is keen to ensure the property doesn’t stand empty.

There are currently 12,500 people on the housing waiting list in Salford and a further 5,200 in Trafford, but with the new system, anyone can apply for a ‘ready to let’ home and doesn’t have to be on the housing register.

To search for properties in your area go to www.salfordhomesearch.co.uk or www.traffordhomesearch.co.uk