Trading Places

Trading Places is an Under Occupation Scheme that supports tenants who live in larger homes and would like to move into a smaller home within the borough of Lewisham or via Seaside & Country Homes.

The main purpose of this scheme is to help those who:

• want to move into a smaller property.
• are affected by the bedroom tax – BTAX (spare room subsidy)

Tenants that have rent arrears (up to £800) as a consequence of the BTAX are allowed to register. However, if your rent arrears are above this amount, please speak with your landlord for further advice.

If you would like to register as an under occupier to move within the Lewisham Borough, please Complete an application via our website at https://www.lewishamfindyourhome.org.uk/choice/

If you aren't able to access the internet / or are unable to complete the application yourself, you can ask a family member or friend.

If you don't have any family or friends who can help with the application, please contact your landlord, who will be able to assist you in making an application.

Once your application is received, the landlord will carry out their essential checks. i.e. that you are an under occupier and already have a spare room/s in your home and that there are no tenancy management concerns, they will also carry out a rent check on your tenancy to make sure you are under the £800 threshold that Trading Places allows.

Once the application is approved by the landlord, you will given a Band 1 Under Occupation priority. More details of bands and housing priority can be found in our Housing Allocation Policy – Priority Bands 2.5.1

Once the above steps have been completed, the landlord will ask Trading.Places@lewisham.gov.uk to register you with the Trading Places scheme, or once you have received notification from your landlord that you have an active account as an under occupier, you can contact :

Trading Places on 0208 314 3035 or email Trading.Places@lewisham.gov.uk if you require help with assisted bidding.

Seaside and Country Homes Scheme

If you would like to move out of Lewisham Borough and move to the seaside or country, you can register for the Seaside Country Homes Scheme.

This is an independently run scheme and, therefore, is not run by Lewisham Council. You still need to be registered with Trading Places so that we can offer support during the process and when you are successful in moving. Being registered with both schemes gives you more options for moving.

To be eligible to register with this scheme, your whole household must be 55 years and older.

For more information and to apply, see the Seaside and Country Homes website.