Short-termlet landlords and property agents are being encouraged to offer NHS staff afree place to stay during the pandemic.

A new industry initiative - nhshomes.co.uk - is hooking up medical staff with free accommodation so they can stay nearer hospitals during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The UK Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA) is co-ordinating the scheme, working with six partners: short term rental firm UnderTheDoormat, home sharing and villa rental firms onefinestay and Altido, and home swapping platform LoveHomeSwap.

All will all provide free accommodation in partnershipwith their property-owners, while Laundryheap is delivering clean linen andtowels, with free toiletries courtesy of Homes & Villa by MarriottInternational.

NHS Homes is already hosting staff who are working athospitals in London including the Royal London and Guy's. The scheme is nowextending out of the capital with demand from Birmingham andManchester as well as Slough and Staines.

'Demand is outstripping supply,'� says STAA CEO MerileeKarr.

'We've had an overwhelming response and we need morehomes to help more people across the country. 

'We're speaking to companies and property portfolio owners to bring on more rooms and properties and the additional services that will make stays for NHS workers comfortable. We want to get as many companies on board as possible to make this a truly industry-wide initiative.'�

No management fee

The STAA has appealed to its members and any propertymanagement company in the UK with a homeor even a block of flats available to get in touch; it can then prepare theproperties for NHS staff, with no management fee. 

Many NHS staff now need accommodation to protectvulnerable people at home, including family members, or if they've relocated toLondon, been evicted either by landlords or effectively asked to leave byflatmates.