DELIVERING HOUSING
WHERE IT'S NEEDED

Guaranteed rent agreements allow landlords to receive a fixed monthly rent for their property, paid consistently for the duration of the agreement, regardless of occupancy. Rather than letting directly to individual tenants, the property is leased to an experienced housing operator, who takes on responsibility for management and day-to-day use of the home.

In practice, this means landlords renting their property to support local authority housing demand can avoid void periods, reduce management involvement, and gain predictable income over an agreed term. Properties may be used for temporary accommodation or longer-term placements, depending on local authority requirements, but the rent payable to the landlord remains fixed and contractually agreed.

For landlords considering renting to a council through a guaranteed rent or rent-to-rent arrangement, the structure, responsibilities and protections built into these agreements are important. We’ve set out a more detailed explanation of how guaranteed rent models work in practice, including typical agreement terms and landlord obligations, in our guidance on guaranteed rent and council leasing.

Guaranteed rent agreements are typically structured as fixed-term arrangements, most commonly ranging from one to five years, depending on the property, location and local authority housing requirements. The length of the agreement is agreed at the outset, giving landlords clear visibility over rental income for the full term.

For landlords considering renting their property to a council or entering a rent-to-rent arrangement, longer-term guaranteed rent agreements are often attractive because they significantly reduce exposure to void periods and turnover costs. We regularly see landlords underestimate the financial impact of empty periods between tenancies, which is why we’ve explored the true cost of voids and lost rental income in more detail.

With recent changes under the Renters’ Rights Act also reducing long-term security for landlords letting directly to private renters, many landlords are reassessing how predictable their rental income really is. We’ve outlined how the Renters’ Rights Act affects tenancy security and why longer-term leasing models are increasingly being considered as an alternative.

Under a guaranteed rent agreement, rent is paid to the landlord for the full duration of the contract, regardless of whether the property is occupied at any given time. This is one of the key differences between guaranteed rent or rent-to-rent arrangements and traditional private renting, where void periods directly impact income.

For landlords renting their property to support local authority housing demand, this structure removes the financial risk associated with short-term vacancies, changeovers, or delays between placements. The housing operator assumes responsibility for managing occupancy and use of the property, while the landlord continues to receive a fixed, agreed rent.

This level of income certainty is a primary reason many landlords considering renting to a council choose guaranteed rent arrangements, particularly where predictability and reduced involvement are more important than maximising short-term market rent.

Rent to rent in London refers to an arrangement where a landlord leases their property to a professional housing operator, rather than letting directly to individual tenants. The operator then becomes responsible for managing the property and its use, while paying the landlord a fixed rent for the agreed term.

In the context of local authority housing, rent-to-rent agreements are commonly used to provide temporary or longer-term accommodation through councils. For landlords, this means renting their property to a single, accountable organisation, rather than managing multiple tenancies, void periods or regulatory changes in the private rented sector.

Because rent-to-rent agreements involve a third party taking responsibility for rent payments and property management, the financial strength and structure of the housing operator matters. Landlords considering rent-to-rent arrangements in London should understand how provider stability, funding and governance affect long-term reliability, which we explore in more detail in our guidance on choosing a financially secure rent-to-rent provider.

Guaranteed rent arrangements are typically best suited to self-contained residential properties that meet local authority housing standards and are located in areas of sustained demand. This commonly includes one-bed and two-bed flats, houses and apartments that are well maintained, compliant and capable of being managed as long-term housing stock.

For landlords considering renting their property to a council through a guaranteed rent or rent-to-rent model, suitability is not just about size or location. Property condition, layout, access, safety standards and ongoing manageability all play a role in determining whether a home can be used effectively for temporary or longer-term accommodation.

Because guaranteed rent agreements involve longer-term commitments and structured use of the property, they tend to work best for landlords looking for predictable income and reduced involvement, rather than frequent turnover or short-term market optimisation. Assessing suitability at the outset helps ensure the arrangement works sustainably for the landlord, the housing provider and the local authority.

Under a guaranteed rent or rent-to-rent arrangement, responsibility for day-to-day property management typically sits with the housing operator, rather than the landlord. This includes managing occupancy, coordinating inspections, responding to maintenance issues and ensuring the property continues to meet required housing standards.

For landlords renting their property to support local authority housing, this structure removes much of the operational burden associated with private renting, while still preserving clarity around ownership responsibilities. The exact division of responsibilities will depend on the terms of the agreement, but is usually set out clearly before the tenancy begins.

Because management and maintenance responsibilities are a key consideration for landlords exploring guaranteed rent and renting to a council, it’s important these roles are defined upfront. We outline how responsibilities are typically split between landlords and housing providers in our detailed breakdown of landlord and operator responsibilities, which many landlords find helpful when assessing whether a guaranteed rent arrangement is right for them.

Properties used under guaranteed rent or rent-to-rent arrangements must meet the core safety and housing standards required within the private rented sector, alongside additional expectations that often apply when homes are used to support local authority housing. This typically includes valid gas and electrical safety certification, appropriate fire safety measures, EPC compliance, and properties being free from serious hazards.

For landlords renting their property to a council, compliance is not a one-off exercise completed at the start of an agreement. Homes are expected to remain compliant throughout the term, with standards monitored to ensure properties remain safe, suitable and fit for continued use.

Understanding these requirements at the outset helps landlords avoid delays, unexpected costs and disruption later in the agreement. Clear compliance standards also underpin long-term housing arrangements that work effectively for landlords, housing providers and local authorities alike.

Guaranteed rent agreements are entered into for a fixed term, with the intention that the property is returned to the landlord at the end of the agreement, unless the arrangement has been renewed or extended by mutual agreement. The terms, notice provisions and expectations around handback or renewal are set out transparently at the outset, so landlords understand how the agreement is structured from the start.

Where properties are used to support local authority housing demand, the timing of vacant possession can be affected by the circumstances of the occupant. In these situations, while Apex will take all reasonable steps to return the property in line with the agreed term, immediate vacant possession cannot always be guaranteed due to the nature of the placement.

If possession is not possible at the end of the agreed term, Apex continues to pay the agreed rent to the landlord and remains responsible for overseeing the possession process through to resolution. Where Apex is managing the possession process, this includes handling the associated legal costs, ensuring landlords are not required to pursue proceedings or incur costs themselves.

Apex operates as an intermediary between landlords and local authorities, structuring agreements that allow privately owned homes to be used to meet housing demand while maintaining clear protections for property owners. We contract directly with local authorities to deliver suitable accommodation, and separately with landlords through guaranteed rent or rent-to-rent agreements.

This structure means landlords are not dealing with councils, occupants or placement decisions directly. Instead, Apex takes responsibility for occupant management, compliance reminders, rent payments and ongoing oversight, providing landlords with a single point of accountability and predictable income for the duration of the agreement.

By aligning local authority requirements with commercially structured agreements, Apex is able to support council housing delivery without transferring operational, financial or regulatory risk to landlords. This approach allows properties to be brought into council use in a way that remains practical, transparent and sustainable for all parties involved.

Once a landlord enters into a guaranteed rent or rent-to-rent agreement, responsibility for how the property is used sits with Apex for the duration of the agreement. This means Apex has discretion over whether the property is used for temporary accommodation or longer-term housing, based on local authority requirements and operational need.

While landlords do not retain day-to-day control over placement decisions, this is a deliberate feature of guaranteed rent arrangements. By transferring operational control to Apex, landlords are able to step away from involvement in occupancy, placement changes and council requirements, while continuing to receive a fixed, agreed rent.

This structure allows Apex to respond flexibly to housing demand across London, while landlords benefit from predictable income and reduced exposure to the complexities of temporary accommodation and council-led housing provision.

Apex operates across Greater London, working with local authorities to deliver housing using privately owned homes. Our model allows us to accept and manage properties from landlords in any London borough, responding to local authority demand as and when it arises.

For landlords looking to rent their property to a council, this means location is rarely a barrier. Apex works across all London boroughs, including:

Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth and Westminster.

While housing demand and council requirements vary by area, landlords across London may be suitable for guaranteed rent or rent-to-rent arrangements depending on property type, condition and current need.

Yes. Apex works with local authorities through a range of accommodation models, including block bookings and private lease agreements, where these are required to meet housing demand. These arrangements are typically used to secure longer-term access to self-contained accommodation at scale.

For councils, block bookings and private leases provide greater certainty over supply and reduce the need for repeated placements. For landlords, these models sit alongside guaranteed rent and rent-to-rent arrangements, allowing properties to be brought into council use through structured, professionally managed agreements.

The suitability of block bookings or private lease agreements depends on factors such as property type, location, scale and local authority requirements. Apex assesses these on a case-by-case basis to ensure arrangements are practical, compliant and sustainable for all parties involved.