Factsheet 5. Guide to Downsizing And How We can help! Are you worried about the cuts to your benefits in 2013, or are you already struggling to afford to live in your home with rising fuels costs? Is your home the Perfect Fit? From April 2013 the Government will be making reductions to Housing Benefit payments to those who are classed as under occupying their homes. If your home has one or two bedrooms more than you need then the amount of Housing Benefit you receive will be cut by 14% (1 spare bedroom) or 25% (2 or more spare bedrooms). Check to see if your home is a perfect fit? Household Single person or couple with no children
Number of bedrooms 1 bed home
Lone parent or couple and one child
2 bed home
Lone parent or couple and two children of same sex both under 16
2 bed home
Lone parent or couple and two children of same sex of which one is 16+
3 bed home
Lone parent or couple and two children of different sexes where both are aged 9 and under
2 bed home
Lone parent or couple and two children of different sexes where one is aged 10 or over
3 bed home
Lone parent or couple and three children
3 bed home
If you are aged 61+ then you will not be subject to under occupancy housing benefit cuts.
Are you struggling to afford the rising fuel bills? If you are finding it difficult to make ends meet, have you considered downsizing to a smaller property that will potentially be cheaper to run?
Potential Savings This table give some example figures for water, gas and electricity over a year and shows what savings you could potentially make from downsizing: Property Size Four bedrooms Three bedrooms Two bedrooms One bedroom
Water (per annum) 460.00 471.00 403.00 361.00
Gas (per annum) 1302.10 1122.50 673.50 449.00
Electricity (per annum) 863.40 791.45 575.60 359.75
Total (per annum) 2625.50 2384.95 1652.10 1169.75
Water rates taken from whatprice.co.uk. Figures for gas and electric are taken from The Energy Saving Trust and are an average as prices vary according to which utility company and how much fuel you use.
RFHA is here to help you. Please contact your Housing Officer who will be able to talk through the options available to you to ensure that you live in a home that is affordable.
How do I look for a smaller home? There are a number of ways to look for a smaller home. RFHA Transfers If you have told us that you are looking to downsize, we can add you to our Transfer Register. Where possible we will contact tenants on our Transfer register and offer them first refusal on a smaller property, on a first come first service basis. Transfer to another association You can join the “Homes Direct” register which will allow you to “bid” on properties that are owned by different Housing Associations as well as RFHA. We can help you with this and make sure that you are given the right priority. Please remember that although this will give you access to a much wider choice of properties, there will be lots of other people looking for homes, some of whom may have a higher priority than you to move. Mutual Exchange You can look for other people who would like to exchange homes. The best way of doing this is to register with Homeswapper, which is a free on line national website that helps match you with a new home that will be a perfect fit. The process is quick and easy, you simply register details about your current home and then the requirements you have for a new place. Homeswapper will then “match” you with the options available. If you need help registering with Homeswapper, please come into our offices and we will be able to help you. Remember - If you are hoping to exchange with a tenant from another landlord, that landlord also has to agree to the exchange taking place. Sometimes a landlord may refuse permission for the exchange. For example if their tenant is in breach of their tenancy agreement. Before helping you we would need to carry out an inspection of your current home. If you are liable for any repairs they would need to be completed to our satisfaction before your move.
How can we help? You may have concerns about the cost of downsizing. We may be able to help if you are under occupying your home and want to move to a smaller property. We can offer help in a number of ways, including a one off cash payment of £500, part cash payment and assistance, or assistance only. Assistance will be to the value of the total eligible cash payment and can: Include for example: Removals Disconnection and reconnection of kitchen appliances Provision of a skip to enable you to dispose of unwanted belongings In order to qualify for this scheme you need to: Have a full assured tenancy of your current home Keep a clear rent account for at least three months Have a clear rent account when an offer of a smaller home is made Have kept to the terms of your tenancy agreement Please speak to your Housing Officer for more information about moving to a smaller property and how we can help. Be aware that although you might qualify for the incentive scheme, it does not guarantee that you will be able to move. RFHA will not accept applications to move if it will result in your household becoming over crowded or, in the case of a mutual exchange, the exchange would result in the incoming tenant under occupying the property. If you think that you might be affected by the Housing Benefit changes, come and speak to us – we may be able to give you practical help that means you can afford the rent after 2013 when the changes are made. Remember, failing to pay your rent could put your tenancy at risk and result in your eviction.
Contact us on By email: In person:
01933 411400 info@rfha.org.uk St Peters House 101 Wellingborough Road Rushden Northants NN10 9YL