Harrow Council tenants could be offered cash to move abroad

Council tenants living in the borough of Harrow in north-west London could be offered a cash incentive if they choose move abroad. The idea is one of a number of plans being discussed as a way of freeing up much needed housing stock. Although Harrow Council has stressed that all ideas are currently only in the discussion stage, those who do decide to move abroad could be offered up to £20,000 to do so.

Other options being considered include moving tenants into private accommodation or smaller properties. According to the local authority, Harrow has 5,000 homes, one of the capitals smallest social housing stocks.

Portfolio holder for housing, Councillor Bob Currie, said one way to free up housing would be to offer those who are already considering retiring to another country or moving abroad to be closer to friends and relatives a cash incentive.

He added that a number of incentives were being discussed in order to make more housing available and that the choice to move abroad would be completely up to those already thinking about doing so.

Mr Currie went on to say that there was not yet any firm commitment to introduce any of the schemes being tabled.