Appeal for private sector landlords to come forward

Nel is hoping to start work with OHAC soon – here she shares her story 

We have a number of new staff members due to start with the Council soon, but they are finding it very difficult to source accommodation. We would hate to lose them because they can’t find a home.

Nel Govender and her family have lived in locations around the world, but it is their hope to move to Orkney and embrace life and work in the islands.

Currently in Cyprus – some 2,300 miles away with a “slightly” warmer climate – Nel is keen to grasp the opportunity that a new role as Service Manager (Children’s Health Services) with Orkney Health and Social Care (OHAC) offers – but the move is being hampered by a lack of suitable accommodation.

Nel said: “As a family we have lived in Africa, UK, Qatar and the Mediterranean. We now want to make Orkney our home and be a part of your culture and all that it has to offer. We are looking for a 3-bedroom home or apartment.”

Like so many other desirable areas to live, Orkney has a shortage of private rental accommodation and it’s impacting on people being able to relocate to jobs in the county.

Nel is one of several recent appointments at Orkney Health and Care who cannot get underway with the job due to being unable to source accommodation. The Council would hate to lose them because they can’t find a home.

Are you a private sector landlord with a rental property, or do you know of a friend or relative with a property for rent who may be able to help by renting to a staff member individually or those with a family?

You just need to be registered and meet the general requirements for registration as a private landlord.

Would you consider registering a property? There’s information for private landlords on our website at https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/H/becoming-a-landlord.htm

The let would be directly to the staff member, not to the Council, and suitable matches would be made depending on circumstances ie if someone had pets or was looking for a particular size of property.

There are currently 949 private sector landlords registered with the Council.

Please get in touch with housing@orkney.gov.uk if you are already registered and have an available property for rent now – or if you are interested in registering as a private sector landlord.

Nel was born in South Africa and previously worked as an audiologist in the NHS, while her husband, Cliff, has a background in finance.

The couple have three children - Leah, Joshua and Lilyanne.

Nel said: “We put down roots in Southwest London and lived there for 11 years. My journey as an audiologist took us to Qatar where I developed the children's audiology service for a new hospital. It was a truly welcoming and diverse experience for us. The children adapted well and were exposed to Arabic, French, Spanish and Mandarin.

“We now live in Cyprus and I have been offered the role of Service Manager (Children’s Health Services) with Orkney Health and Social Care Partnership.

“Why Orkney? Why not?! With such a rich history, Orcadian culture and vibrant outdoor lifestyle just waiting to be explored who wouldn't grasp the opportunity!

“Leah is off to university soon studying criminology and forensic psychology in England. Josh is a keen fitness enthusiast with his own social media following and is keen to encourage health and wellbeing for teenagers. And little Lily, well she's fluent in English and Turkish and will go into Year two in the new school academic year.

“Thank you for reading my story and I hope that this piece will get some traction and enable myself and others in a similar position secure accommodation and make Orkney our home.”

Maureen Swannie is OHAC Head of Strategic Planning and Performance / Interim Head of Children, Families and Justice Services. She said: “We are appointing to key roles only to find that those who have accepted are then struggling to source suitable private accommodation – whether through a rental property or private buy.

“We are also aware of how scarce private rents are, so we have taken the unusual step of a public appeal. This is not about social housing – such as Council housing or through Orkney Housing Association Ltd – this is about trying to source through private channels.

“We are in the difficult position of losing people as a result, which means delays to appointments and further rounds of advertising – only to find you may be in the same position again if appointing from outwith the county.

“We would encourage those with empty homes to consider becoming a landlord and rent out their property – there’s opportunities for additional income to be made.”

There’s also work ongoing at OIC to try to identify and help bring empty properties back into use across Orkney thanks to an Empty Homes Officer.

Rachael Batty was appointed to the role of Development and Empty Homes Officer at Orkney Islands Council in May 2021 and is delighted to be part of what she sees as the “opportunity to assist in building a sustainable future for our islands”.

Rachael has joined a growing network of 25 empty homes officers across Scotland and is the first dedicated empty homes officer within the county since 2019.

She sees a key part of the job as engaging with homeowners and communities to help bring empty homes back into use.

According to the National Records of Scotland, in 2020 Orkney had the third highest level of vacant dwellings within Scotland with an estimated 5.6% of the housing stock lying empty. Rachael will be working to identify and help bring these empty properties back into use.

There’s also an Empty Homes Matchmaker Scheme matching those wishing to sell an empty property with those looking to buy one.

Alongside her work on empty homes, Rachael will work with community groups and private companies to support and secure funding for housing projects and support the Council’s own house build projects.

For more information check out the empty homes web page.