Crisis Launches Not-for-Profit Landlord Model with Lloyds Banking Group

Homelessness charity Crisis is to become a not-for-profit landlord in the private rented sector, buying homes with £6.9 million of unclaimed funds provided by Lloyds Banking Group. Crisis describes it as the first time in more than 60 years that a homelessness charity has delivered housing.

The charity plans to buy its first homes by summer 2026 and aims to acquire at least 100 properties across London and Newcastle over three years, with ambitions to grow further. Chief executive Matt Downie said the backing would allow Crisis to offer some of the people it supports, including those facing the most severe homelessness, genuinely affordable and secure homes. Lloyds chief executive Charlie Nunn said the bank was proud to help the charity acquire and manage housing for the first time.

The move comes as homelessness reaches record levels. An estimated 4,793 people slept rough in England on a single night in autumn 2025, the highest figure since records began, and 1.34 million households were on council housing registers. Government affordable housing plans have been criticised for the time they will take to deliver.

The venture builds on the two organisations' earlier creation of Good Place Lettings, a social enterprise letting and management agency that has helped nearly 40 people into settled homes. Its director, Ben Rayner, called the Crisis initiative brave and admirable. Lloyds and Crisis have also extended their wider partnership by two years, with the bank having already raised over £5 million for frontline services.

The scheme forms part of the broader Rent for Good discussion within the private rented sector, a theme at the National Landlord Investment Shows, and is seen as an example of how businesses, charities and landlords can work together to tackle homelessness as the sector adjusts to the Renters' Rights Act.

Source: National Landlord Investment Show, originally published on The Landsite (22 April 2026)