Downsizing

Less is more!

Does your house have more rooms than you need?
Because of the shortage of family homes, when you move to a smaller property we will help you and give you up to £3,500 to say thank you and to help with the costs of moving. Moving home can be stressful, but we will make it as easy as possible for you.

To find out more about how we can help and the money you will be entitled to, read on, download our downsizing leaflet, or contact us for an informal chat on 01626 322722 or e-mail: info@teignhousing.co.uk You will be under no obligation to move.

Enjoy the benefits of moving somewhere smaller
Less space can mean lower fuel bills and a lower Council Tax banding as well as a lower rent – so you have more money to spend on other things.

A smaller or communal garden is more manageable, so you can enjoy time outside rather than worrying about a list of jobs to get on with.

We aim to make the move as easy as possible for you. We’ll help you arrange for packing and removals and changing utility suppliers. A member of our team will be your one point of contact – dealing directly with other staff members for things like making sure repairs to your new home are carried out before you move in. And we will agree everything in writing before you move so you know what to expect.

You choose where you want to live. Stay or move closer to family and friends, near shops or a bus route or in a quieter location. You can move anywhere in the UK and still qualify for money and help as long as you move to another housing association or council owned property.

Choose somewhere with an additional guest bedroom. If you need somewhere for family to stay, you can move to a property with less rooms than you currently have and still get help and money.

You might want to choose a home with special support services, which will help you to remain independent in your home for longer.

Maybe you’ll choose a home that has the benefit of a built in social life - look for properties in areas with a community room and offering activities such as bingo, coffee-mornings and day trips.

How much money will I receive?
If your current home is a 4 bed you'll receive:

• £3,500 if you move to a 1 bed
• £3,000 if you move to a 2 bed
• £2,500 if you move to a 3 bed

If your current home is a 3 bed you'll receive:

• £2,500 if you move to a 1 bed
• £2,000 if you move to a 2 bed

If your current home is a 2 bed you'll receive:

• £1,500 if you move to a 1 bed

Maybe you’ll use the money to help pay the costs of moving, buy carpets or curtains for your new home, get a new TV, take a holiday or use it to pay your rent so you don’t have to worry about that for the next year! The choice is yours. If you prefer, we can pay direct to someone who has supplied goods or services to help you move so you don’t have to pay them first.

When Doreen Farmer decided to move somewhere smaller she gave the Clark family to chance to make their own happy memories. Doreen’s story: “After 57 years worth of happy memories in the same home in Newton Abbot, I wasn’t looking forward to moving. But the longer you leave it, the harder it gets. I chose somewhere just down the road – so I can still easily see friends and family, and with coffee mornings and BBQs I’ve found I’ve made even more friends. I’ve can now enjoy a communal garden and do some planting if I want, but not to worry if I don’t feel up to it. Even better, I can see the market from my flat – so there are always interesting people to watch, walking past. The move was upsetting as I had so many happy memories of my three children growing up in the old house – I’d been mother, granny, nursemaid – everything in that house! But I understand the shortage of family homes here, and it’s only right that someone else gets the chance to live there now. Knowing another family can really use and enjoy that house is my consolation. If they are half as happy as we were, then they’ll be okay.”

Denise Clark, her husband, carpet fitter Ian, and children, 2 ½ year old Jack, Lucy aged 5, 9 year old Amy and Sophie aged 13, had been living in a two bedroom home in Dawlish for the last 12 years. Denise’s story: “When my youngest two children were born, our flat started to feel a bit cramped. The children all slept in the same room, which was particularly hard on my eldest, who just couldn’t get a moment’s peace to settle down with her schoolwork. Now we have three bedrooms it’s made a huge difference and the kids have settled well into school – it’s great. Another bonus is having a garden – Jack just loves going out in the fresh air to run around."

The downsizing allowance is a discretionary grant to assist people in beginning to think about downsizing and help overcome the barriers to doing so.  It is not paid where tenants have already begun to make arrangements to move and is subject to budget availability. Mutual exchanges are not eligible for the downsizing incentive.