If you're a secure or fixed term tenant of the Council who are currently under-occupying your home, you may benefit from downsizing and be eligible for the downsizing payment if:
- your home is too large
- you're unable to look after your garden
- you would like to reduce your household bills
- you have a spare bedroom which means your housing benefit has been reduced
- you have an adapted property you no longer need
Eligibility
If you (the tenant) apply to transfer under the policy, your application will be considered providing you:
- are a tenant of the Council
- hold a secure tenancy or fixed term tenancy for a minimum of 2 years
- have kept to the terms and conditions of your tenancy agreement
- are under occupying a general needs family home with two or more bedrooms, which is regarded to be in demand when considered against the Housing Register and willing to downsize or are under occupying a general needs property and need adaptations
- are occupying a general needs property which has major adaptations such as a level access wet room
- have no housing related debt with the Council (this is considered as current or former rent arrears, use and occupation charges, housing benefit, court costs, and rechargeable repairs including repayable rent deposits)
- have no council tax arrears
- have maintained the property to a satisfactory standard
- agree to provide vacant possession of your present home
The Council will not accept applications where the tenant:
- or any household member would be made homeless due to downsizing
- will be making themselves and their household overcrowded
- is arranging a move under the mutual exchange process
- moved via a mutual exchange in the last two years to a property that was larger than their assessed housing need
- has an introductory tenancy
- is required to downsize following a succession or statutory succession, excluding, existing joint tenants who wish to downsize
- is being ‘decanted’ due to their current property being part of a redevelopment scheme
- is not a qualifying applicant on the Transfer Register
- has received a downsizing incentive scheme payment from the Council within the last two years
- has debts with the Council that exceed the size of the downsizing payment
- has failed to maintain the property to a satisfactory standard
Applicants who request to downsize and have any debt owed to the Council will be assessed individually to determine whether it's appropriate to apply discretion according to their individual circumstances.
Those who don't meet the eligibility criteria of the policy but are still under occupying their property may still apply for a transfer in the normal way.
Offers of accommodation will be made in line with the Allocation Policy. This will be available soon.
The application process
Tenants applying to the downsizing scheme must complete and return the downsizing incentive application form (available soon) and the online transfer application form. To find out more about the allocations policy and the transfer form, visit Housing register.
Applications will be assessed and a notification will be sent to you advising:
- if you qualify for the Transfer Register
- if you meet the eligibility criteria of the policy
- the size property you're eligible for
- the size of the payment available for downsizing
You will be given a choice of which properties are available, and you can express an interest in suitable void properties or in the future by bidding using the Council’s choice-based lettings scheme. You can ask for help with bidding if needed.
Applicants will be offered an alternative property that is adequate for their housing need and the number of offers of accommodation will be made in line with the Council’s Allocation Policy.
Downsizing incentive payments
A cash incentive will be payable if a tenant moves from general needs accommodation of two or more bedrooms to a smaller property. The incentives are:
- £1000 to be paid per bedroom as a result of downsizing
- an additional £1000 to be paid if you’re moving from a property which has a major adaptation such as a level access shower room
- an additional £1000 if a tenant moves to a studio or one bedroom flat in a sheltered housing scheme
- up to £500 towards relocation costs and where possible, we will be able to pay your removals direct to the removal company which will be deducted from your final payment
Additional support
We can arrange the following services if needed, which will be deducted from the downsizing payment:
- removals, including packing service
- disconnection or connection of cookers, washing machines and dishwashers
- removal of unwanted items left
- handyman service
- decorating pack
Conditions you must meet to get the incentive
An inspection of the property will take place. Any rechargeable works identified, over and above normal wear and tear, will be deducted from the incentive payment. This also includes the cost of clearing excessive items left in the property or garden.
The Council reserves the right to deduct from the incentive payment:
- current or former rent arrears, use and occupation charges, housing benefit overpayments, court costs, rechargeable repairs and repayable rent deposits owing to the Council at time of transfer
- removal expenses incurred
- the amount of any council tax arrears outstanding to the council at time of transfer
- the cost of any works that the council has to do on the vacated premises as a result of damage or neglect on the part of the outgoing tenant
- any other reinstatement works to bring the work back to the Council lettable standard that are not regarded as fair wear and tear
Payments will be authorised and transferred to your bank account once you have moved and following an inspection of the vacated property and keys have been returned from the home you are vacating.
If the tenancy is a joint tenancy, the payment will be split equally between the joint tenants but can be paid into one bank account or joint account if a written authority from both tenants is sent.
An applicant who has moved home and received an incentive payment will not be eligible for the Council’s transfer register for five years, if they increase their household size so the new property becomes overcrowded.
View the downsizing policy (PDF).