Downsizing cost tops £100,000 in two years

Pensioners and single people living alone in council houses in Sandwell were paid more than £100,000 over two years to move to smaller properties in a bid to cut the waiting list.

As bosses try to shorten the 6,800-strong list, Sandwell Homes is offering residents who downsize £500 for each bedroom released, with 233 residents accepting in the past two years.

Under the Tenant Incentive Scheme, 115 residents in 2010-11 downsized their homes, costing Sandwell Homes £131,259 to help them move, at an average of £1,141.38.

If each of those residents moved to a house with one less bedroom, their payments would have been £57,500 but the actual amount is likely to be higher as some residents will have moved out of houses with two bedrooms free.

In 2011-12, 118 moves were made under the scheme, costing £114,610 – an average of £971.12 per move.

People would have been paid at least £59,000 for those moves.

Councillor Simon Hackett, Sandwell's housing chief, said: "The amount spent per move depends on what services the tenants choose, such as help with packing and removal, redirection of post, and reconnection of white goods.

"I would like to emphasise that the scheme is not just about making a financial payment but also includes providing officer support which is greatly appreciated by our more elderly tenants and involves 'hand-holding' the tenant right through the process from initial expression of interest in the scheme to actually moving into their new property.

"We need to ensure we make the best possible use of the housing stock we have."

He said Sandwell Homes used other schemes to reduce under-occupied properties.

Among them is registering with an organisation called Homeswapper.

There is also a choice-based lettings scheme.