Many new tenancies often show signs of failing very early on, with young people being the most afflicted client groups.
These tenancies fail for a number of reasons: debt and inability to budget correctly and pay rent, ignorance of benefits to which they may be entitled, lack of knowledge in dealing with even the basic of household management tasks, and no understanding of behaviour expected when living away from home for the first time and coming to realise that inviting all their friends around to drink and play music all night does not make them popular with their new neighbours.
A young person may delight on the initial throes of independence when they collect the keys for their new home, however, these emotions can quickly turn in to doubt and uncertainty when the realisation of the responsibilities involved in maintaining a tenancy are brought to the forefront.
Landlords are expectant that their tenants will behave responsibly, look after their property with care and pay their rent on time but equally have no or very little understanding that this young person moving into their property has only just severed the apron strings and has not yet learned how to cope with anything other than coming to the table when dinner is served.
These are just a few reasons why the reliance on tenancy support services is becoming greater in the social and rented housing sectors.
We would not ask someone to dig a large hole but not give them the tools to do so, so why would we think it's a good idea give someone a property to manage and a tenancy to sustain without giving them the tools and the knowledge to do so? Tenancy Support takes many forms, be it casual floating support, or more intensive depending on the young persons needs and capabilities but offering such support could be the most valuable service to landlords and their young tenants.