Manchester City Council is offering financial incentives for social housing tenants who want to move into smaller properties, as part of efforts to reduce under-occupation.
Under the council’s Rightsizing Incentive Scheme, eligible tenants living in council or housing association properties can receive £2,500 in cash, alongside help with moving costs, if they choose to downsize.
The scheme is aimed at residents who may no longer need a larger home or who are finding it difficult to manage their property as they get older.
The council said Rightsizing can benefit residents through lower rents and reduced energy bills, while also freeing up larger homes for families waiting on the housing register.
To give context, around 20,000 households are currently registered for social housing in Manchester, with larger family homes among those with the longest wait times. What’s more, the council estimates around one third of social rented family homes are under-occupied.
Last year, the council supported 109 households to rightsize and a further 432 have expressed interest in the scheme. Ritchie, a long-term resident in Manchester, has already benefitted from the programme – he previously lived in a three-bedroom house in Blackley, but after his wife died he said he found the property difficult to manage.
As a result, Ritchie moved into a one-bedroom bungalow in Harpurhey and the local authority arranged and covered the cost of the removal, including reinstalling household appliances.
‘The council paid for everything,’ Ritchie said. ‘The house was far too big for me. I feel secure here, the bungalow is manageable and it’s nice and quiet.’
After the move, Ritchie also received the £2,500 cash incentive, which can be spent without restrictions.
Gavin White, executive member for housing and development at Manchester City Council, said: ‘Rightsizing could be a brilliant option for older people who are renting a Council home who may have spare rooms they don’t need or would benefit from looking after a smaller property. Often a barrier to moving is the cost, but the Council will take care of the financial burden to help a resident move into a new home.
‘The benefit for the city is that we can free up more larger homes for people who are waiting for a property that properly meets their needs. We think around a third of council tenants could be under occupying their home – which means they could be paying more than they need to or they could be hit with the bedroom tax.’
‘While we are committed to building more social housing to meet demand across the city, we also need to use the homes we already have in the most appropriate ways,’ White added. ‘While no one will be forced to move home if they don’t want to – rightsizing could be a really good option, along with a cash bonus, for our residents who would love a smaller, cheaper and more manageable home.’
Photo: MCAU
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