Lewisham Council Homepage Skip navigation
navigation-end

Moving house if you are a social housing tenant

If you would like to move from your current social housing there are several schemes you may be eligible for.
Scam alert

We are aware that a number of residents have received a text messages that says it is from Lewisham Crime Enforcement, telling the person they have outstanding fines and to click on a link and pay immediately.

THIS IS A SCAM. 

If you receive a text message, please ignore and report to www.actionfraud.police.uk. 

Downsize

If you have more bedrooms than you need, we can:

  • find you a smaller, more manageable home
  • give your old house to a family that needs the extra space.

Our package could include removal and costs for cooker, washing machine, landline, post re-directionContact Trading Places if you are interested.

Move to another borough

If you want to move to another part of London, you may be eligible for the Housing Moves scheme. If you want to move to another part of the UK, you may be eligible for the Homefinders UK scheme.

Retire to the seaside or country

If you are over 55, you may be eligible for the Seaside and Country Homes scheme, which helps Londoners move into bungalows and flats outside of London.

Get help to move into private renting

If you want to move into private renting, we can give you up to £2,650 to help with the:

  • first month’s rent
  • deposit
  • moving costs.

See if you are eligible for the Fresh Start scheme.

Swap your house

If your landlord agrees, you can swap your house or flat with another council or housing association tenant

Get help to buy a house

If you live in a council property, we can give you a cash grant of £25,000–£44,000 to help you buy a new home.

Buy your council home

The Right to Buy scheme allows you to buy your council or housing association home at a discount. If you are interested, contact your housing provider.


You may also be interested in…

Move into a smaller social house

If your social housing property is too big, get support to move into a smaller, more manageable home with the Trading Places scheme.

Move from social housing into private renting

The Lewisham Fresh Start scheme enables Lewisham tenants and Lewisham overcrowded or homeless housing applicants to move into the private rented sector. It is a self-help scheme and applicants need to be proactive in looking for suitable properties in the private sector.

Swap your home with another social housing tenant

If you are a council or housing association tenant, you can mutually exchange your house or flat with another tenant.

Grants for council tenants to buy a house

If you are a tenant of a council home, we can give you a cash grant of £25,000–£44,000 to help you buy a new home.

You may also be interested in...

Housing benefit reduction for extra bedrooms

Your housing benefit will be reduced if you have unoccupied bedrooms.