Downsizing

Moving to a smaller home

If you would like to move to a smaller home, we can provide advice, support and guidance. 

Downsizing allows us to make sure our residents are in homes they can afford and we make the best use of our housing stock by freeing up larger homes for homeless families and overcrowded households.

Put simply, we’ll be able to provide good quality homes to more people.

When should you consider moving to a smaller home?

You may want to consider moving to a smaller home if:

• you're receiving housing benefits and are affected by the size criteria
• your home has become too costly to run and difficult to manage
• the number of people in the household has reduced, for example, children have grown up and left home
• you want to move to a different location to be nearer family or work

What help will I get with moving? 

As new referrals to our rehousing service are temporarily paused, we're not currently able to offer you another property directly.

If you transfer to another L&Q home with fewer bedrooms, we may be able to offer financial support and not charge an affordable rent.

If you're downsizing through a transfer or mutual exchange to another L&Q home, you may be considered for financial support if you're:

• affected by size criteria
• disabled
• over working age (if moving into general needs homes)
• moving into sheltered accommodation
• parent(s) with children under 16

Things to consider

Before moving home, you'll need to clear all outstanding arrears. Making an online payment is simple. You just need to:

• sign in to your L&Q online account
• go to 'my payments'
• select 'make a payment'

Please get in touch if you're affected by the size criteria and cannot move due to arrears. Our customer service centre can help you with support and advice.

We reserve the right to exclude residents from moving if there has been a breach of tenancy or if your current home has not been kept in a suitable condition.