Under occupancy incentive scheme

Grants are available to help you move to a smaller house
 
Door

Could you manage with a smaller home?

If you have been a Cambridge City Council tenant for two years or more, we offer incentives to move to one of our smaller properties.

You would receive a grant and removal expenses if you want to move - this lets us make larger homes available to larger families.

Within the incentive scheme, the following debts must be deducted from the grant before it is paid:

  • rent and service charges you owe on the property being vacated, or a previous City Homes tenancy
  • Council Tax arrears
  • cost of any existing works the tenant would usually pay for, or any works needed when you leave the property, over and above normal wear and tear
  • the cost of clearing any excessive items you leave in the property or garden
  • overpayment of Housing Benefit
The under-occupancy incentive scheme will not be available to tenants who arrange a move through the mutual exchange process.

The table below shows the level of allowance paid for different transfers.

Moving fromMoving toGrant payableRemoval allowanceTotal grant payable
2-bedroom property1-bedroom property£1,000£800£1,800
3-bedroom property2-bedroom property£1,000£800£1,800
3-bedroom property1-bedroom property£2,000£800£2,800
4-bedroom property3-bedroom property£1,000£800£1,800
4-bedroom property2-bedroom property£2,000£800£2,800
4-bedroom property1-bedroom property£3,000£800£3,800
5-bedroom property4-bedroom property£1,000£800£1,800
5-bedroom property3-bedroom property£2,000£800£2,800
5-bedroom property2-bedroom property£3,000£800£3,800
5-bedroom property1-bedroom property£4,000£800£4,800

Download the application form to register for this scheme.

If you have any questions about the scheme or need help completing the application form, contact your housing officer at one of the addresses below.

Alternatively you can email housingincentivescheme@cambridge.gov.uk.

City Homes North
171 Arbury Road
Cambridge CB4 2YG
01223 458415

City Homes South
89 Cherry Hinton Road
Cambridge CB1 7BS
0800 587 2031