Affordable rental homes plan revealed by council

The authority said more than 100 households were in temporary accommodation

A £2m plan to help people in a town find affordable homes has been revealed.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC) is looking to create a "social letting scheme" to increase the number of affordable rental properties.

It said there were 700 people on the waiting list for council housing in the area, with some waiting as long as 35 months.

The authority hopes to lease up to 50 properties from private landlords and bring some empty homes back into use.

Council leader Carl Smith said the scheme would be run by a council-owned company and offer "affordable, quality, rented accommodation" to households at risk of homelessness.

The authority hopes to reduce the £500,000 spent annually on temporary accommodation and the use of expensive bed and breakfasts, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Mr Smith said he hoped the scheme would offer "a longer-term solution", with more than 100 households in temporary accommodation and some waiting over a year for a suitable home.

It would be paid for using income from fees and charges for council services such as car parks and leisure centres.

Councillors will vote on the proposal at a full council meeting on 14 December.