Following the approval at Cabinet last night (Tuesday 10 March 2026), financial and practical help will be offered to social tenants considering releasing their home to a new family, making the process as easy and straightforward as possible.
The approach has been shaped by engagement during the letting of new affordable high-quality homes in Wingspan Walk, which have been targeted to potential under-occupiers over the age of 55.
Haringey’s housebuilding programme has been identified as the second biggest in the country for building the most social rent homes and is on track to deliver at least 3,000 council homes by 2031.
But the borough is facing soaring demand for genuinely affordable homes, especially family-sized accommodation.
Haringey Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, Cllr Sarah Williams, said:
“We are seeing more of our residents unable to afford rents. Many of our council tenants raised their families in homes with several bedrooms and their children have now left home, leaving them with homes that are too big to manage.
“Many of our residents would now like to move to a smaller home and we hope this innovative measure will maximise the number of family homes released in Haringey as the council continues its driving mission to build a fairer and greener borough amid a London-wide housing crisis.
“For the wider community, downsizing means there are more family-sized council homes. We have thousands of local residents in the borough living in overcrowded homes in real need of an affordable home with multiple bedrooms.
“Downsizing has to be a voluntarily move but it can mean a more comfortable home, closer to family and friends for those moving and at the same time make a real contribution to help ease this ever-growing demand.”
Under this newly-approved Under-Occupation Policy, the council will:
- Collaborate with housing associations to support and encourage downsizing
- Create a database of tenant needs and property features to help matching, as well as a dedicated council officer post to guide downsizers through the whole journey
- Continued succession rights at a downsized property for children who already have them, if they move with their parent/s
- Increase the time window for moves to help people clear their current home
- Review moving allowances every year
As well as leading the way in housing delivery, Haringey is injecting almost £600m over ten years to drive up the comfort and quality of all its 20,000 council homes.
