I manage a service that helps people move by swapping homes via a mutual exchange. Its open to everyone living in social housing.
There are a number of reasons why social housing tenants might want to move, including medical issues, overcrowding, finding work or wanting to be closer to relatives. But as we all know, social housing is in short supply and people can languish on the waiting list for years.
I love my job as we provide a unique service and I get to help people realise their ambitions through moving. It is incredibly rewarding and each time I hear about a successful swap it reminds me of how vital the service is. For example, I recently had a lady who was desperate to move out of London to be with her new partner in Peterborough and create a family unit around her young son. We worked closely with her to find a move and were delighted when the perfect home became available. She has kept in contact and tells me that the move has transformed their lives and her son in particular is much happier.
However, the job isn’t without its challenges. It often involves explaining to people that we do not have a magic wand: we provide the tools and advice but it’s up to them to find a suitable swap. Many people are desperate to move and this can be hard for them to take in. Sometimes you have to switch off your emotions and help them as best you can. This can be hard, particularly in the most deserving cases.
With not enough social housing available and more people than ever needing affordable homes, existing tenants tend to be at the bottom of the pile and mutual exchange is often their only option. Even then, their chances of finding what they’re after are slim and people have to be more realistic about their expectations and willing to make compromises if they want to move. Unfortunately, many are not willing to do this, for many reasons, as I know from my own experience.
In 2013 my dad was diagnosed with cancer. Our large family home, rented from a housing association, became too much for my parents to manage, and they asked me about the possibility of downsizing.
At first my mum wouldn’t entertain the idea of a swap. However, as they didn’t qualify for the local downsizing scheme, they eventually came around to the idea and had a look at some properties in a nearby town. Before anything could be finalised, my dad very sadly passed away. Mum has since decided that she wants to stay in the village, so my husband and I have now moved back to support her to continue living in the house, which remains too big for her to manage on her own.
I understand why Mum wants to stay in the village, but I know she is never going to find a smaller home in the same place.
Trying to meet very specific needs means that some of our customers get caught in a similar trap and then they can’t find a move. Recent research by G15, an organisation of the 15 largest housing associations in London, suggests that 74% of those affected by the bedroom tax in 2013 have stayed put and are having to make tough choices about paying rent or other expenses. This shows that people need support not penalties and that we need to help them to move rather than penalise them.
Mutual exchange isn’t the answer for everyone, but it does make a difference. We were able to help 25,000 people move last year. I think we can do more, particularly to help older people overcome the challenges of moving. In the meantime, my team and I will continue to do everything we can to help people find the home that’s right for them.
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