Is your home
too big for you? Would you be interested in moving to a
smaller property with help from the
Council? You may be eligible for the Transfer Incentive
Scheme.
West Lancashire Borough Council has a limited supply of family
sized accommodation when compared with the demand expressed by our
Council House Register. The main need is for family houses of two
bedrooms or more. The Council has therefore adopted an
under-occupation incentive scheme in order to free up these
properties and family size bungalows subject to location,
adaptations and need.
Under this scheme, council tenants who are giving up these types
of accommodation are eligible for cash and practical relocation
incentives and are given the highest priority for rehousing in the
allocations scheme.
Why move?
Many people have found several advantages in moving to smaller
accommodation - including reduced heating bills and less cleaning
and decorating.
What’s the eligibility criteria?
The Transfer Incentive Scheme is available to tenants who meet
the following:
- Have been a secure tenant of West Lancashire Borough Council
for a minimum of three years.
- Occupy a general needs family house with two or more bedrooms
which is regarded to be in demand when considered against the
Housing Register.
- Have a clear rent account or have an agreement in place to
clear arrears and Estate Management & Tenant Participation Team
agree that a move can take place.
- Agree to provide vacant possession of their present home.
- Agree to transfer to smaller accommodation that meets their
bedroom requirement plus a maximum of one bedroom extra, if the
tenant prefers from the following property types:
- General needs flats
- Sheltered flats
- Category II accommodation.
Incentive payments
Incentive payments will be paid at the following rates to those
transferring from family-sized general needs accommodation to
smaller or non-adapted property.
- £1,000 if you give up a family bungalow and move to a smaller
one
- £1,000 if you give up a house and move to a general needs
flat
- £1,250 if you give up a house and move to a sheltered flat
- £1,750 if you give up a house and move to Category II
accommodation, or under one roof schemes which have a Scheme
Manager (most of which will live on the premises).
Plus for each bedroom that is freed up for the Council, by
virtue of the move, the following scale will be applied.
- £1,000 if you give up one bedroom
- £1,250 if you give up two bedrooms
- £1,500 if you give up three or more bedrooms
Plus
The Council will arrange and pay for:
- Furniture removal and relocation
- Disconnection and reconnection of white goods
- Provide a fixed payment of £200 towards redecorating
- Relocation of existing carpets or their replacement if
relocation is not appropriate because of room sizes and shape up to
a value of £600
Plus will..
- Assist with any forms in relation to notifying housing benefit
(if applicable) of your move.
- Assist, if required, in notifying your existing utility
companies of your move - Gas, Electric, Phone and Water
Conditions
Other conditions apply and there are ineligibility criteria in
operation. These will be made clear at application stage. This is a
voluntary scheme and no tenant will be required to move. The scheme
is not available to customers nominated to move to our partner
Housing Association landlords.
Want to register your interest in the scheme?
Please contact: Paul Smith, Tenancy Downsizing Project Officer,
Housing and Property Maintenance Service Division, P.O. Box 16 52
Derby Street Ormskirk L39 2DF
Tel: 01695 585143
Email: paul.smith@westlancs.gov.uk
Important note
Please bear in mind the amounts (£) above maybe withdrawn or
reduced subject to funding and vary depending on any outstanding
debt you owe to the council may be offset from this sum.
Related information