Move to a smaller council home


It can be difficult to give up a family home that you have lived in for a long time. But we encourage you to consider whether you still need a property as large as you have.

If you are under occupying and have held your tenancy for at least two years, you can apply to downsize, or move to a smaller home. You can also apply for a grant of up to £2,750 to help cover the cost of moving.

Advantages to downsizing include:

  • lower utility bills
  • less rent to pay
  • no bedroom tax
  • lower council tax banding

As a general rule you are entitled to one bedroom for each of the following:

  • an adult couple
  • another person aged 16 or older
  • any two children of the same sex aged 15 or younger
  • any two children aged 10 or younger, regardless of sex
  • a non-resident carer, if somebody in your household has a disability and needs overnight care

Read section 5.4 of our Lettings Policy [PDF, 0.3MB] to find out more about bedroom entitlement.

Apply to downsize to a smaller home

If you want to move to a smaller council home, the first step is to register for Home-Link.

You can also try to find a mutual exchange and swap your home with another council or housing association tenant who is looking for a larger home.

If your property is owned and managed by Cambridge City Council and you have been a tenant for at least two years, we will pay you an allowance for moving (subject to approval and funds being available at the time of your move).

Moving from Moving to Amount payable Removal allowance Total grant payable
2-bedroom property 1-bedroom property £500 £400 £900
3-bedroom property 2-bedroom property £500 £600 £1,100
3-bedroom property 1-bedroom property £1,000 £600 £1,600
4-bedroom property 3-bedroom property £500 £700 £1,200
4-bedroom property 2-bedroom property £1,000 £700 £1,700
4-bedroom property 1-bedroom property £1,500 £700 £2,200
5-bedroom property 4-bedroom property £500 £750 £1,250
5-bedroom property 3-bedroom property £1,000 £750 £1,750
5-bedroom property 2-bedroom property £1,500 £750 £2,250
5-bedroom property 1-bedroom property £2,000 £750 £2,750

Apply for a grant to help you move home

You will also need to fill in the Under-occupancy incentive scheme application form to be considered for the downsizing grant.

Apply for the Under-occupancy incentive scheme

Before completing this form, you should register for a housing transfer through Home-Link, or find a mutual exchange.

Contact us

Is this page helpful?

Website feedback form
Website feedback form

For questions about a service we provide, please use our contact us form

For feedback on our new website, please use our website improvements form

Was this page helpful? (required)
Website feedback form
Tell us why (required)
Website feedback form
Tell us why (required)
Website feedback form
Prove you are a human (required)