London landlord is renting his King’s Cross flat for free

A property tycoon is renting out his central London flat for free in a bid to help someone in need over the festive season.

Laurence Lameche, 39, is on the hunt for homeless singleton, couple or family to move into the two-bedroom flat, in King’s Cross, which usually rents for £2,000 a month. 

Mr Lameche – who was forced to sleep in his car when he first move to London at 20 because he couldn’t afford rent – explained that he simply wanted to do ‘something nice’ over Christmas. He said he hoped his own act of kindness would inspire other landlords to do the same.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with FEMAIL, Mr Lameche said: ‘I just wanted to do something nice and to give back to someone or a couple or a family that is in need of accommodation over Christmas. 

Spacious: One of the two bedrooms in the property, which will go to someone in need

Stepping stone: The flat, pictured, could provide someone a chance to get back on their feet

‘I want to help inspire other people like landlords who have an empty property over Christmas to try and do the same thing as me and to let a homeless person sleep inside a warm home rather than be out on the street.’

Mr Lameche, who runs property companies City Booker and The London Property Buyer, explained that he was so poor when he first moved to London 19 years ago that he was forced to sleep in his car, even during the freezing winter months. 

Good Samaritan: Laurence Lameche

He recalled: ‘I had a roof over my head but no heating so I would have to drive around in the car for about 30 minutes with the heating up full blast so the car could be warm for a while. 

‘Then I would park on the street or in a car park and sleep there for the night and during the day I would go to look for work and come back to my car at night. I would wash in hotel bathrooms.’

He went for job interviews but was turned away because he didn’t have a home address, but without a job he couldn’t secure a place to live. 

This vicious cycle is all too familiar to the roughly 8,000 who sleep rough on the streets of London every year.

Mr Lameche said he was eventually helped by a landlord who ‘gave him a chance’ and agreed to let him rent a property for free while he found his feet. He now hopes to give someone else the same opportunity. 

The flat has two bedrooms, a separate kitchen and amenities including wifi and TV. 

‘I managed to change my life and it’s possible for anyone to do so,’ he continued.  

Versatile: The bedroom can also be set up as two single beds, as pictured above

Temporary respite: Laurence is not accepting paid bookings in order to help others in need

Personal experience: Mr Lameche was forced to sleep rough when he moved to London. Pictured, the bathroom of his two-bedroom flat in King’s Cross, north London 

‘This is what led me to think coming up to Christmas this year that rather than just to give people money or to give to charity; or to smile at a homeless person; or buy them food or clothes; or to give people advice on how to change their life. I wanted to give them something to help them on that journey.’ 

Mr Lameche has posted his festive offering on social media but has yet to find someone to help. 

He continued: ‘I am just looking for a genuine case of hardship and it doesn’t matter whether they are a man, woman or child, I just want to help someone who needs accommodation over Christmas and New Year.’ 

There are no specific criteria for the search. Mr Lameche explained: ‘I am looking for a homeless person, couple or family that are living on the street and who need accommodation.

‘I have 2 bedrooms and one super king size bed in each room or they can be split into 2 single beds in each room.’

Applicants can apply through Mr Lameche’s Facebook post and he said he will personally decide on the right tenant.

He added: ‘All I really feel I can do to decide is to follow my heart and I am sure it will lead me to a deserving person.’