Why getting on a bike is not a

Why getting on a bike is not an easy option for most tenants

A blog update from Brendan Ryan 16/11/11

I was asked to do a radio interview recently about the launch of the government’s Home Swap scheme.  It reminded me about some of the key points from the Hill’s report on social housing which described how difficult it is for tenants of councils and housing associations to move to other parts of the country to find work. 

Only 4% of moves in the social housing sector are related to employment compared to 18% in the private sector.  While the lack of affordable housing will always make it difficult for tenants to move, the real problem is the way social housing is allocated. 

Councils have their own housing pressures and obligations to house people who are homelessness or have other urgent housing needs, so there is not too much scope to offer a home to people from outside the area.  Short of giving up the security of a council tenancy and moving into the private rented sector, tenants are restricted to looking for a job in the area where they live.

Things are set to get worse especially for tenants living in areas of high unemployment.  Councils facing increasing pressures from homelessness locally will be less inclined to accept people moving into their area to find work.  People from places like East Kent will find it harder to move to areas where employment prospects are better.

There may be a glimmer of hope on the horizon.  The National Home Swop scheme will help some families that want to move to other areas, providing they can find someone wanting to go the other way. East Kent is an attractive part of the country and I am sure that there will be lots of people who will want to move here, possibly after their working life has finished.  Meanwhile Kent HomeChoice is working with councils and housing associations throughout Kent to develop better ways for tenants to move across the county. 

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