What The Conservative-Led Council Was Doing Behind Closed Doors

CONSERVATIVE-LED LANCASHIRE COUNCIL USED TAXPAYERS' MONEY TO OFFER LANDLORDS CASH INCENTIVES

A letter sent by the Conservative-led Lancashire County Council on the 8th of May 2025 reveals that council officers were actively approaching private landlords with financial incentives to house refugees — taking properties off the open market for local Lancashire families.

Reform UK won the Lancashire County Council election on the 2nd of May 2025, however the new Reform cabinet was not officially appointed until the 22nd of May. This letter was sent by the outgoing Conservative-led administration in the intervening period.

The letter, sent to private landlords across Lancashire, describes refugees as "a better bet for landlord than many other tenant types" and sets out a package of financial incentives funded by the taxpayer, including:

• Up to 3 months deposit paid in advance
• Void payments covered by LCC — including council tax and utility bills
• Top-up rent paid by LCC of up to 100% for the first 12 months, and possibly longer, up to 3 years
• £1,200 available for redecoration and floor coverings

Lancashire County Council's Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Environment and Communities Joshua Roberts said:

^{"This letter lays bare exactly what the Conservative-led council was doing — using taxpayers' money to make it more financially attractive for landlords to house refugees than local Lancashire families. While local people sat on housing waiting lists, the Conservatives were running a scheme that pulled private rental properties off the market and sweetened the deal with cash incentives."}

^{"This is one of the many reasons I have announced my intention to withdraw Lancashire from the refugee resettlement scheme. Lancashire people deserve to be put first."}

This letter is directly linked to the resettlement scheme that has cost Lancashire taxpayers an average of £7 million per year since it was accepted by the previous Conservative administration in 2015. As recently as March 2025, the Conservative administration approved plans to continue and expand its involvement.

Reform UK took formal control of Lancashire County Council on the 22nd of May 2025 and has committed to full transparency about the inherited schemes, costs and decisions of the previous administration.

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^{Notes to editors:}

^{This proposal to withdraw from the refugee resettlement scheme will go to cabinet in the summer to be formally decided. The Homes for Ukraine Scheme, which the council has a legal obligation to provide, would remain unaffected.}

^{Reform UK won Lancashire County Council on the 2nd of May 2025. The new Reform cabinet was officially appointed on the 22nd of May 2025.}

^{The two schemes going to cabinet are the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) and the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS).}