Scheme will encourage 'under-occupying' tenants to downsize

The revised Tenant Downsizing Scheme is designed to create more housing opportunities for families in need of larger homes.

The proposal will be discussed at the Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee meeting on Wednesday, 22 January, as part of a review of the Common Allocations Policy.  This policy guides applications to the Common Housing Register, which offers a streamlined application process for social housing provided by Perth & Kinross Council and three partner Housing Associations.

Analysis suggests that around 2,000 Perth and Kinross Council tenants live in homes larger than necessary for their household size, including over 200 tenants with two or more bedrooms. Meanwhile, approximately 120 Perth & Kinross Council tenants are actively seeking rehousing due to overcrowding.

Feedback from a public consultation on the Common Allocations Policy review highlighted strong support for encouraging tenants with extra rooms to downsize.

While the Council cannot force any tenants to give up their home because of its size, we are committed to providing attractive incentives and support to downsize.

The revised scheme will:

• Initially focus on Perth & Kinross Council tenants
• Offer cash and/or non-cash incentives up to the value of £2,000 (such as providing floor coverings in the new property, arranging removals etc.)
• Provide tenants with more choice in terms of the type and size of property they can move to
• Be actively promoted to tenants with significantly under-occupied homes who have not yet applied for alternative housing.

The overall review of the Common Allocations Policy confirmed its compliance with legislation and statutory guidance, and its effectiveness in meeting its stated objectives. Only minor changes are recommended to clarify common applicant queries and enhance our ability to prevent homelessness for people in unsustainable and insecure accommodation

Housing and Social Wellbeing Convener, Councillor Tom McEwan, said: "In Perth and Kinross we are proactively addressing housing supply and demand pressures with a range of innovative initiatives. The Tenant Downsizing Scheme will help us address the mismatch between housing need and available properties in Perth and Kinross. By encouraging tenants who are under-occupying their homes to downsize, we can free up larger properties for families who desperately need more space. This approach will help us create a more balanced and efficient use of our housing resources, ultimately improving the quality of life for many of our tenants."