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Downsizing or upsizing your council property

You have a few options if you are a council tenant whose home is too big or small, you may decide to pursue more than one option at once to increase your chances of finding a more suitable home.

Under occupying 

Having a home with more bedrooms than you need for your family is known as under occupying. You may lose some Housing Benefit or Housing Element if your current home is deemed to be too large. This can lead to financial hardship as you will have to pay the difference yourself. You may also find a larger home difficult to manage.

If you are in this situation, it may help you to downsize through one of our schemes or you could consider a mutual exchange.

The HomeMove scheme can help you to downsize to a smaller home with one-to-one support throughout the moving process.

Grant

Through the scheme you can access a financial grant to help with:

  • carpets for your new home
  • arranging your removals
  • providing a packing service
  • disconnecting and reconnecting household appliances
  • arranging clearance of your old home
  • re-directing your mail
  • hiring a skip

You may also be able to utilise your grant to cover any outstanding rent arrears or rechargeable repairs. We will be as flexible as possible to help you move to a smaller home.

The amount of grant you will receive depends on whether you are a tenant of pensionable or working age. 

Criteria

To be eligible you must be living in family accommodation and be downsizing by at least one bedroom into non-family accommodation. 

  • family accommodation is a house with 2 or more bedrooms or a 2 bedroom flat with a garden
  • non-family accommodation is a 1 or 2 bedroom flat without a garden, sheltered accommodation, or a bungalow

If you wish to move from a 3 bed family property to a smaller 2 bed family property, you will not qualify for the grant. However, you will be placed in band B on Keyways to help you find a move quickly.

If you have rent arrears, or debts from rechargeable repairs you may still be eligible but you must be aware that any arrears or debts may be deducted from the payment you receive.

Apply 

You will need details of:

  • your current property including the address, size (no. of bedrooms) and type (flat, house, bungalow)

  • your household composition, including ages and sexes of children

  • type of property you are looking to move to

  • whether the household requires special adaptations for any disability or mobility issue 

To find out whether you are eligible for the scheme contact us at:

The Fresh Start Scheme can help you to downsize to a smaller home with one-to-one support throughout the moving process.

Criteria 

You can apply if:

  • you are a tenant living in a house or a bungalow with more bedrooms than you need
  • you have a clear account for all housing related debt 
  • your home is at acceptable standard
  • you are not in serious breach of any tenancy conditions

Support

  • free practical help
  • a dedicated named officer to help you through the process from start to finish
  • an agreed personal action plan
  • a cash incentive as a thank you for moving based on the number of rooms being given up

To find out whether you are eligible for the scheme contact us at: 

Overcrowding

Having a home with fewer bedrooms than you need for your family is known as overcrowding. If you are overcrowded and a social tenant, you can register for a transfer if you are not an introductory tenant. However, be aware that waiting times for larger properties are likely to be much longer than for smaller properties.

You can also search for a mutual exchange. Your chances of success are likely to be higher than in the past due to the number of people looking to downsize due to welfare reform.

To found out more information contact: 

Extra support

Homefinder UK is a national non-profit mobility scheme that can help you move home.

Last updated 12 April 2023