BOURNEMOUTH council says 26 homeless families have now been housed via its own private company.

Seascape Homes and Property Limited, wholly owned by the council itself, was set up in 2016 to allow the authority to operate as a private sector landlord and issue assured shorthold tenancies - which local authorities cannot do with social housing.

The council has bought 26 properties around the town to be let directly to homeless people via Seascape, a move which it says saves money and fulfils its statutory duties.

Lorraine Mealings, head of housing, said: "Like many other councils, we are under increased pressure with reduced funding from government to meet our homeless duty to support vulnerable people in Bournemouth who find themselves without a home.

"The council has introduced more innovative options in order to continue to meet this duty, and buying properties in this way enables the council to, in effect, operate as a private landlord and rent directly to homeless people.

"It is helping us to reduce costs, for example, avoiding the use of expensive B&B accommodation.

"By owning the properties, it means that the council is able to ensure the properties are good quality and well managed.

"In the longer-term any income generated and increase in property values will all come back to the council to help fund additional services for vulnerable people."

The council says it is spending around £12 million overall on property purchases, with further sites on the way later this year.

Several sites, including 24 Garfield Avenue and 23 Irving Road, are going through the planning process for use as family homes or houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).

At the time Seascape was set up the town was experiencing a major rise in homelessness, with the number of applications for help from rough sleepers rising from 195 in 2012/13 to 522 in 2015/16.

The firm was also established to let in the general rental market, and at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday members agreed to buy back flats at the St Stephen's car park site, which had been sold to another council initiative - the Bournemouth Development Company.

Assuming the company, a partnership between the borough and Morgan Sindall Investments, gains planning permission, the council will buy the completed blocks and let them on the open market via Seascape.