The ability to move from one home to another easily has always been a bit of a holy grail for social housing tenants.

Following the closure of the government’s housing mobility service Move UK in 2007, the options for social housing tenants wishing to move have been limited to either sub-regional schemes or mutual exchange schemes which, although operated nationally, are very reliant upon compatibility with another resident’s needs.

Last year, using an innovation and good practice grant from former social housing funder the Housing Corporation, eight housing associations commissioned a research project to ascertain the demand for an additional housing mobility option that is currently not being offered by social housing providers.

Consultancy Campbell Tickell, with the support of Leeds and Manchester councils, interviewed 1,280 residents from the housing associations and local authorities about their aspirations and the barriers to moving. Focus groups were organised to supplement the telephone interviews, together with a review of past, existing and pending mobility schemes, and the results were collated in the report Mobility matters which was launched on 4 November.

The report estimates that nearly 700,000 households living in social housing want to move, including nearly 130,000 hoping to move to another region.

Social housing mobility makes a major contribution to sustainable communities and individual health and happiness. Being able to move relatively easily comes high on people’s housing agendas and social tenants as a group are least in control of their own housing destiny.

Thus, the demand for a national mobility scheme, which will have to work within the existing choice-based lettings and nomination arrangements, is particularly acute.

Moving to be nearer family or friends, meeting a demand for smaller, larger or different accommodation, or enabling a move for employment reasons, can have significant social advantages and hugely benefit quality of life. A robust mobility scheme would not only assist households as their needs change, but also help tackle overcrowding and under-occupation.

Mobility may not currently be one of social landlords’ core activities, but Professor John Hills’ 2007 review of social housing suggested that mobility and choice for tenants should be at the heart of their opportunities. The report recommended that it would be worth investing in a pilot scheme among a number of larger landlords which, if successful, could be rolled out across the country.

Perhaps, with a general election inevitable next year, each of the main political parties should be urged to commit within their manifestos to creating a new statutory scheme where all landlords will be obliged provide a right for social housing tenants to move from region to region.
Simon Randall is chair of Broomleigh Housing Association.

Read the Mobility matters report at www.homesandcommunities.co.uk

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