Council tenants in Barnet are being encouraged to think about the benefits of moving to a smaller home in a new campaign run by Barnet Homes and housing associations in the borough.

The campaign will publicise Barnet’s Fresh Start scheme – designed to help tenants downsize – to all social housing tenants using postcards and adverts in the press. The campaign to increase awareness of this voluntary scheme has been funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

The aim is to promote downsizing among more tenants living in larger properties with bedrooms they may not need, perhaps because their circumstances have changed or their family has grown up. This will free up much needed family sized accommodation, which is in short supply in the borough.

Up to £4,000 is on offer to social housing tenants within the borough who decide to move to smaller accommodation with the help of the Barnet Homes Fresh Start Scheme.

Tenants taking advantage of this are offered a choice of properties in an area of their choosing, together with practical help picking a new home and with the move itself. Under Barnet Council’s new allocations policy tenants wishing to downsize will also be given priority.

Barnet Homes Chief Executive, Tracey Lees, said: “I hope our campaign to highlight our Fresh Start scheme and its benefits will encourage tenants to think about downsizing if they think their home is larger than they need. It’s entirely voluntary.

“Not only is our scheme designed to make moving easier both financially and practically, it gives people a home of their choice in an area they want to live.

“Our Fresh Start Scheme payment aims to provide an incentive for tenants to downsize and free up much needed homes we can let to families waiting for permanent accommodation. Any tenant living in a home that is too big for them and wanting somewhere smaller can apply.

“Tenants taking up the scheme have been enthusiastic and pleased with the help they have received. In some cases people have also chosen to keep a spare bedroom for visitors. The longer term benefits include reduced household bills and having a home that’s easier to manage.”

Jan Davidson from Grahame Park who has just taken advantage of the Fresh Start scheme said: “I am very happy with the Fresh Start support I got from Barnet Homes during my move. I didn’t expect it to be so quick or to happen so smoothly, but I love my new studio flat and hope a family will enjoy my old home in Satchell Mead.

“Everyone says moving is stressful, but it was great to go from viewing a new home to moving in just ten days with no hassle and little stress.”

The Fresh Start cash payment is on a sliding scale depending upon the number of bedrooms being giving up. Tenants will receive £1,500 for giving up one bedroom, plus £1,000 for each additional bedroom. There is an extra £500 for moving from a three bedroom home or more, to a bedsit or one-bedroom property.

This is part of a raft of measures by Barnet Homes to maximise the availability of social housing in the borough. These include the new appointment of two anti-fraud officers to detect any illegal occupants living in social housing they are not entitled to and a new fraud hotline, 020 8359 7254 for residents to report suspected housing fraud.

Residents interested in the scheme should contact the Fresh Start Officer on 020 8359 4695 or email fresh.start@barnethomes.org.