ALMOST 700 people have been helped to find new homes in the private rented sector thanks to a partnership initiative between three Conservative-led Somerset councils.
Somerset West Landlords and Tenants (SWeLT) is part of the private sector housing partnership set up by West Somerset, Sedgemoor and Taunton Deane councils and in the past year has helped 675 people find somewhere to live.
In all 333 households were found new homes in privately rented accommodation through SWeLT that has launched a number of initiatives to make the process easier.
The councils also helped 133 households that were either homeless or about to lose their home find social housing.
Broken down by district the figures show that in West Somerset 122 households were helped into the private rented sector and 18 into social housing; in Taunton Deane 118 were housed in the private sector and 82 in social housing while in Sedgemoor the figures are 93 and 33 respectively.
SWeLT acts as a one-stop shop for landlords and tenants providing, among other services, free help, support and advice, access to low cost loans and bond guarantee schemes.