'Right size'

'Right size' is a Nottingham City Homes/Nottingham City Council initiative to tackle both overcrowding and underoccupation in social housing across Nottingham.

It is an initiative between all the partners in Nottingham HomeLink.

It links in with local priorities across the country. For example, in Nottingham it is a way of better using the housing we and many housing associations have. Making better use of the stock means we can house individuals and families more appropriately, reducing the number of new family homes needed. It also contributes to improving eductional achievement as children in overcrowded homes can't do their homework in appropriate circumstances.

What is 'Right size' all about?

There are two main purposes:

To help reduce overcrowding

1) We can help tenants find a more suitable property or making simple changes to the property so they can live more appropriately in the home they have until a more suitable one is found in the future. This might include having bunk beds instead of single beds for an overcrowded bedroom.

To help people who live in homes too big for their needs

2) We can help to find properties that are more suitable for our tenants current circumstances. This can be the case when older people are in homes too big for them but are either afraid to move or do not have the knowledge or money to make this possible. We can then help with advice on moving and it means we will have a bigger accommodation back in our stock for letting to a family.

We are also helping tenants who will lose out on benefits when the new benefit changes take effect from April 2013.