With the ever-increasing cost of living, now could be the time to consider downsizing to a smaller property. Downsizing to a smaller home could help you save money on expensive monthly energy costs and reduce the amount of council tax you pay. You could also be entitled to a cash incentive payment for downsizing, to help you through this difficult time.
The council offers a variety of options for those who are wanting to downsize to smaller accommodation. We can also offer a financial incentive package to help with the cost associated with moving. Whether you can no longer manage your home, can no longer afford unoccupied bedrooms, or just wish to move to smaller accommodation, we can help.
Benefits of downsizing
- The council can offer a generous financial incentive package to downsize for eligible tenants.
- More suitable and more manageable property.
- Cheaper monthly bills.
- For those affected by bedroom subsidy, a more suitable and more affordable property.
- An opportunity to clear rent arrears using incentive package.
Downsizing options
- Apply for a transfer through Locata - as an under occupier you will be eligible for a higher banding.
- Sheltered accommodation - for those downsizers ages 60+ we can offer a range of warden control sheltered schemes with careline installed within 60+ communities.
- Bungalows for those aged 60+ - for residents aged 60+ wishing to downsize but do not wish to move to sheltered accommodation. Many have their own gardens and walk-in showers.
To find out more about any of the downsizing options mentioned above visit Locata Home.
Seaside and Country Homes Scheme - if you are 55+ you can apply to transfer out of the borough and move to a seaside or rural location.
Extra care - if you are 55+ and currently have a package of care in place where you're living, or have a care need, you may be eligible for one of our newly built extra care schemes. For more information please call our Social Care Direct team on 01895 556633 or email socialcaredirect@hillingdon.gov.uk.
Incentives
Incentives are awarded depending on how many bedrooms a tenant is giving up.
Move from | Move to | Bedrooms released | What you get | Removals paid for | Redecoration |
|---|
4 beds | 3 beds | 1 | £2,000 | Up to £400 | N/A |
4 beds | 2 beds | 2 | £4,000 | Up to £400 | N/A |
4 beds | 1 bed | 3 | £6,000 | Up to £400 | £850** |
3 beds | 2 beds | 1 | £2,000 | Up to £400 | N/A |
3 beds | 1 bed | 2 | £4,000 | Up to £400 | £850** |
2 beds | 1 bed | 1 | £2,000 | Up to £400 | £850** |
**Redecoration relates to pensioner households only moving into one bed property [age restricted or not].
Please note: Residents downsizing via Seaside and Country Homes and out of the borough are not eligible for the same incentives as those downsizing within the borough. Please see below for further details.
In addition to the above incentives we can also offer the following:
- a rent guarantee for one year for residents moving to a property with a higher rent for working residents whose rent is not covered or partially covered by Housing Benefit or Universal Credit
- a flat rate incentive of £2,000 for internal mutual exchange moves. This only applies where an overcrowded household is successfully removed from the housing register as a result of the exchange
- we now offer the same incentive package for tenants wishing to downsize into a housing association property
- we will offer a £2,000 incentive payment towards removal / relocation costs when a Hillingdon tenant downsizes from a 2+ bedroom property into a social tenancy under the Seaside and Country Homes scheme
- Introduction of a larger property bonus for tenants releasing a property of four or more bedrooms we will offer a bonus £1,000 incentive in addition to the £2,000 per bedroom released.
For more information on downsizing, call 01895 556666.