The National Housing Trust initiative involves the procurement of a private sector development partner to provide homes for affordable, intermediate rents. The Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) is acting as a central purchasing body for The City of Edinburgh Council. It is intended that SFT and The City of Edinburgh Council will enter into contracts with each successful developer. The completed units which meet the authority's requirements will be purchased by an LLP whose members will be SFT, the local authority and the developer. In each case, management and maintenance services will be delivered to the tenants by the developer or nominated and approved sub-contractor. Each developer will deliver these services in respect of their own completed units for a 5-10 year period. By no later than 10 years after purchase by the LLP, the units will be sold and the proceeds applied as agreed between the parties.