Edinburgh tenants to be paid £1,000 to downsize
Wednesday, 13 July 2011 3:30 PM
Edinburgh Council is offering tenants in houses that are too big for them incentives of £1,000 to move to smaller properties better suited to their needs.
From this month, tenants will be offered the money to help them with the costs associated with moving home.
The Tenants Incentive Scheme is part of a drive to free up much-needed space in Edinburgh Council’s housing stock.
The council, which according to the BBC has set aside £50,000 to fund the scheme, believes around 1,000 Edinburgh homes – about five per cent of its stock – were under-occupied.
Councillor Norman Work, vice-convener for housing in Edinburgh, told the Scotsman newspaper: "No one wants to see rooms lying empty in some of our larger council homes whilst other families are living in overcrowded accommodation.
"Tenants now have an incentive to move and free up much-needed family accommodation. There are just not enough large homes in the social housing sector in Edinburgh to meet demand.”
Betty Stevenson, Edinburgh Tenants Federation chairwoman, told the BBC that while she hoped the scheme would help people move into more suitable homes, some residents may not like the idea.
"Sometimes the thought of packing and moving could put people off, especially in today's current economic climate, but this assistance to move will come in useful,” she said.
"Also, smaller homes will save them money as they will be cheaper to heat."
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