The big squeeze

Work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith’s call to encourage relocation of the unemployed and his department’s intention to address underoccupation by limiting housing benefit coincided with Circle Anglia’s publication of research which revealed the damaging economic costs of immobility - £542 million a year.

Having established our not-for-profit service houseexchange.org.uk in 2004, we have seen first hand how beneficial mutual exchange is in giving residents control over where they want to live. So, it’s encouraging that some incarnation of a national database could be in the offing. But any national scheme will face big challenges and more innovation and partnership working is needed to get to the heart of addressing the impacts of the ‘social housing squeeze’.

Online mutual exchange services give an obvious advantage to internet literate tenants. Any national exchange scheme or database, therefore, must recognise the challenges of being accessible to all of the UK’s social housing tenants and helping those registered to move. One solution would be a national telephone support line.

In addition, a simplification of the transfer and allocation processes so that tenants applying for a transfer are automatically considered for mutual exchange, could speed up the process. Mutual exchange should not be seen as a one-size-fits-all solution and is just one cost-effective method of solving a complex problem.

Other creative solutions are needed to address overcrowding and underoccupation issues. Pioneering ideas like the housing options and advice service managed by Circle 33, part of Circle Anglia, where staff support tenants to move or to adapt or extend homes to better meet tenants’ needs could be taken up by more associations. Roddons, our housing association in Cambridgeshire, runs an ‘easy moves’ scheme, which offers financial incentives and practical assistance for people who are happy to, or need to, downsize.

If we link mutual exchange and incentive schemes with health and work initiatives - we would really start helping those in need and maximise the use of our homes during a period when reduction in grant will significantly reduce supply.

However, operating schemes such as these requires significant investment. Housing associations need to make their assets work harder, so we can reinvest more in communities. The broader answer is to give housing associations more flexibility and freedom in how they use their assets. Key to finding the answer is working closely with residents to identify areas where investment is needed and then jointly develop creative solutions.

The social housing squeeze needs to be tackled. Innovation in tenant mobility, combined with giving social landlords more freedoms and flexibility, could enhance the life chances of more people.

Mark Rogers is chief executive of Circle Anglia Group