Finding a smaller home

• A home that is more suitable to your needs; such as level access with adaptations
• A more manageable home with less to keep clean and a smaller garden
• More affordable bills as a smaller home can be cheaper to heat
• Moving closer to friends or family for support
• Your home is made available for a family in housing need

You are eligible if you are:

• A Cornerstone tenant living in a property with three or more bedrooms with no minimum age restrictions
• Willing to move to a home that is smaller than your current home and suitable for your needs

Due to the demand for one bedroom homes and the high number of two bed flats we have, we may allow you to downsize to a two bedroom home.

If you are interested in considering a downsize move we will:

• Visit you to discuss your individual situation
• Listen to any concerns you have and any support you may need
• Get a good understanding of what you would like from a downsize move
• Explain your housing options and help you to find a new home
• Be honest with you about the process and realistic about your choice of home
• Talk to you about the financial help available
• We will NOT pressurise you to move, if after talking to us you decide you don’t want to downsize, that is fine – it is your choice.

We know that the cost of moving can be a worry so we have an assistance scheme to help take some of that worry away. We can offer you up to £1200 towards the cost of moving to a smaller home and this flexible payment can be used for the following:

• Removal costs (including packing, services of removal company or van hire)
• Carpets or other flooring for the new home
• Curtains or blinds
• Re-direction of post
• Furniture (such as sofas, beds, or white goods to fit in a smaller home)
• Payment of rent arrears or other debts with us
• Payment of rent in advance on a new home
• Disconnection and reconnection of appliances such as cookers and washing machines
• One-off re-connection of services such as telephone, broadband, television

Other moving related costs may be considered and we may be able to give you practical help and support, just talk to us about your needs. Rent arrears and other debts associated with your home, such as chargeable repairs, will be paid from your financial assistance before you receive a payment. You may be eligible for help from other agencies and we can help you explore that. As standard we will ensure that your new home meets our minimum lettable standard and if it needs a lick of paint we may do that or provide you with a Dulux paint pack.