The Council has published a list of incentives that it will offer to encourage tenants to move from properties that are too large for them. There are several smaller homes available in the City while demand for family housing continues to grow.
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The Council currently has 732 tenants (claiming housing benefit) identified as under occupied (unused bedrooms). These tenants (excluding pensioners who are not affected) will lose some of their entitlement to housing benefit in April.
The Council stays that, “There are a number of reasons why customers may have not considered downsizing or initially be unwilling or unable to move to a smaller home. These are often, financial (can’t afford to move), emotional (family home of many years) and practical (find it difficult to organise a move) whilst at the same time living in a home that they do not make full use of, find hard to keep on top of or expensive to heat”.
Where there is a financial constraint preventing a tenant moving the Council is suggesting several initiatives to help. These include:
• Incentive payments based on rooms freed up
• Cover cost of moving appliances, carpets and other associated costs.
• Practical and financial help in arranging and doing a move
• Practical and financial help with decoration.
• Purchase of white goods where these do not exist.
Where tenants are incapable of organising a move themselves practical help would be offered.
Similar schemes have cost around £400 per “mover” to run.
http://democracy.york.gov.uk/documents/s78581/Report%20downsize%20homes.pdf