Officials from the local authority’s housing service will attempt to persuade private landlords to lease their property to the homeless — using the council as an intermediary — for periods of up to two years.

In return, the authority will pledge to ensure the accommodation is kept “in reasonable condition”.

A Perth and Kinross Council spokesman gave details of the ambitious plan.

“At a meeting of the Landlords Forum in Perth, the housing service of the council hopes, through the introduction of a new private leasing scheme, to strengthen its ability to work with private landlords,” he said.

“The initiative is being developed in response to the continuing shortage of temporary accommodation for homeless people.

“Proposals will be outlined at the Perth meeting which, it is hoped, will encourage private landlords to lease their property to the council on two-year leases.”

The spokesman said the authority would undertake to return property to the landlord “in reasonable condition allowing for normal wear and tear”.

“The council would pay the rent for the term of the lease and undertake normal needs like repairs and maintenance,” he continued.

The need for temporary homeless accommodation locally is not in doubt —last year rising demand resulted in 600 people being housed by the authority.

It used its own Greyfriars Hostel, a number of flats and bed and breakfast premises as well as voluntary sector hostels.

One local councillor throwing his full weight behind the council’s new initiative is Muirton representative Gordon Hunter.

“The private leasing scheme is a promising new option and I am pleased to see it being made available in Perth and Kinross,” he revealed.

“Homelessness remains a difficult problem for us and other Scottish councils and there is no single solution.

“We need all the innovation we can get,” Mr Hunter added.

Landlords and property agents interested in the new initiative can call the council’s homeless persons service manager Sheena Cochrane on 01738 476164.