14 March 2008
An attempt is being made to set up a scheme that would make it easier for council and housing association tenants to move home.
Increased mobility is seen as a key factor in the government's drive to encourage tenants to find work. Last month, housing minister Caroline Flint provoked consternation when she suggested that tenants should sign 'commitment contracts' and seek jobs in return for being offered homes.
This week, the Housing Corporation announced that it had commissioned a new feasibility study into a national mobility scheme. Eight of the country's largest registered social landlords have signed up to the project, along with all 33 London boroughs and eight other councils, including Birmingham, Bradford and Manchester.
Abi Davies, principal policy officer at the Chartered Institute of Housing, said tenants seeking new homes because of changes to their work or caring responsibilities would welcome a national scheme.
'Everybody thinks it's a good idea but we need to work out proper details of how it will operate,' she said.
A final report on the feasibility study will be delivered to the corporation in late July.
Two years ago, the government was forced to tear up a £1.2m contract with private firm Scout Solutions after it ran into trouble trying to develop IT that linked jobseekers to its housing mobility and exchange service.
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