Several London councils have banded together to form a joint lettings initiative, which hopes to help tackle the city’s housing crisis.

Capital Letters, which will involve Brent Council, aims to improve access to affordable housing in the private rented sector (PRS).

It also seeks to remove the element of competition experienced by neighbouring boroughs, as they try to secure as much housing as possible in their region.

Cllr Eleanor Southwood, responsible for housing and welfare reform at Brent Council, said: “The Capital Letters programme is an opportunity to increase the number of homes available to our residents when they come to us for help.

“The more homes we can access, the fewer families will have to live in temporary accommodation.

“I’m looking forward to working with other boroughs to create a solution that benefits families in Brent. This is just one way that we are tackling the housing crisis.”

A report brought before the council’s cabinet, explained that the aim of the programme is to provide at least the same amount of access to PRS homes in Brent.

It could also benefit from a potential £39 million, which could be made available across three years by the ministry of housing, communities and local government to a pan-London housing scheme.

Cabinet agreed that any attempts to ease the borough’s “chronic” housing crisis – where there are just under 2,500 homeless households living in temporary accommodation – should be welcomed.

It also noted that the programme should reduce the number of people being displaced from Brent, and help other boroughs struggling with the same issue.

And Cllr Harbi Farah suggested the council push for “appropriate political oversight” at the new body, to ensure it remains fair and balanced.