'Freedom Pass' to Social Sector Tenants
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In a bid to ease pressure on tenants in the social rented sector, Housing Minister, Grant Shapps will be introducing a National Affordable Home Swap Scheme.
Aiming to free tenants and give them control over their choices of home and area, the new scheme will give tenants the option of moving elsewhere around the country. Tenants seeking employment in another city will now be able to move with relative ease providing they can find a suitable exchange within the social sector.
In last week’s announcement the Housing Minister said, “Today I’m launching a ‘Freedom Pass’ for all 8 million people in affordable housing in England. Social Housing should provide more than a roof over people’s heads – it should lift them out of poverty, and free them to take chances to improve the quality of their own lives. Instead many tenants are left trapped in their own homes, while councils and housing associations turn their attention to record waiting lists.”
With very little impetus placed on existing tenants looking to relocate in other parts of the country, the scheme comes at a time when waiting lists in England for social housing have hit an all time high of 1.8 million. The scheme will allow tenants to browse data of other social sector tenants and properties across England who are also registered within the scheme.
It would be of great interest to see if the private rented sector would benefit from a similar scheme.
By
Madalena Penny