Private Rented Sector Offers (PRSOs)
Our duty to you
If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness, we have a legal duty to help prevent or end your homelessness.
Our role is to help you secure settled accommodation. This is known as homelessness assistance. In many cases, settled accommodation will be a private rented home.
Homelessness assistance is not the same as applying for social housing. Because social housing is in very short supply across London, most households owed a homelessness duty will be assisted to secure accommodation in the private rented sector.
What a PRSO is
A Private Rented Sector Offer (PRSO) is a formal single offer of suitable private rented accommodation made by the Council.
This is a lawful and legitimate way for us to end our homelessness duty and may be one of the housing options used to help end your homelessness.
It is important to understand that the Council is not required to secure social housing before making a PRSO. A suitable private rented property may be offered instead.
Before we make a PRSO
Before making a PRSO, we carefully assess:
- Affordability
- Household size
- Medical needs
- Education and schooling
- Employment
- Caring responsibilities
- Support needs
- Travel requirements
Every household is assessed individually to ensure any offer is suitable.
Finding your own privately rented property
Many households choose to find a private rented property themselves when they are at risk of losing their home or actually homeless (i.e. during the prevention or relief stages of their homelessness application).
Doing this can give you greater control over:
- Where you live
- The type of property you choose
- Proximity to family, schools and services
- Travel arrangements for work and caring responsibilities
If you identify a suitable property, our Private Rented Sector team may be able to help you secure and move into it.
The earlier you begin looking for private rented accommodation, the more choice you are likely to have.
Why choose private renting?
Private renting has become an increasingly popular housing option and offers many benefits, including:
- Faster access to settled accommodation
- Greater choice of location
- Wider range of property types
- Increased flexibility
- Long-term housing stability
Many residents build successful long-term tenancies and strong local connections through private rented housing.
How we can support you
Our Private Rented Sector team works closely with residents, landlords and letting agents to help households access settled accommodation.
Support may include:
- Help finding suitable accommodation
- Rent in advance assistance
- Affordability assessments
- Negotiating with landlords and agents
- Tenancy advice
- Tenancy sustainment support
- Help with moving
Contact the team: privatesectorprocurement@wandsworth.gov.uk
Do not sign a tenancy agreement or pay any money before speaking to us.
Read more about finding a place to rent.
When we make a PRSO
If your homelessness has not been resolved during the prevention or relief stages of the process, we may make you a Private Rented Sector Offer (PRSO).
The PRSO may be the final offer we make to bring our homelessness duty to an end.
Bear in mind:
- The property may be outside Richmond
- The property may be elsewhere in London
- The property may be elsewhere in England
- Normally only one suitable PRSO will be made
If you refuse a suitable PRSO
If you refuse our offer:
- We may bring our homelessness duty to an end
- Any temporary accommodation provided may also come to an end
For this reason, we strongly encourage households to explore private rented accommodation as early as possible and take advantage of the greater choice available when searching yourself.
Your rights
If a PRSO is made, you will be informed why the property is considered suitable for your household. You have the right to request a review of certain decisions we have made, including decisions relating to the suitability of accommodation.
Find out more about housing reviews and appeals.
Read about renters' rights.
PRSO policy
Our Private Rented Sector Offer Policy gives more information about how we use PRSOs to prevent and relieve homelessness.