Moving help for tenants

Tenants who are living in homes which are too big for them are being given help to downsize.

Peterborough City Council has given Cross Keys Homes (CKH) a grant of £60,000 to enable it to offer incentives to tenants who are under-occupying homes with three bedrooms or more in Peterborough.

The aim of the scheme is to free up homes which will immediately be made available to families on the city’s housing need register. There are nearly 975 households on the council’s housing register with a three, four or five bedroom need.

With a maximum incentive of £5,000 per household the scheme will offer tenants a transfer to a suitable property in their area of choice by supporting them with the cost of moving, including clearing their old home and purchasing new carpets or flooring for their new home.

Since 2012 CKH has helped 225 households to downsize. This new scheme will enable CKH to reach out to those who have yet to move. The housing association’s chief executive Claire Higgins said: “Being able to offer tenants support to move to a suitable home means that we can move families who are currently homeless or living in homes too small for their families’ needs, into the ideal home for them.”

CKH tenants who are looking to downsize should call customer services on 01733 385000 or email customerservices@crosskeyshomes. co.uk.