'Cash incentive' for Harrow Council tenants moving abroad

Harrow Council said it needs to free up social housing stock

Council tenants in a north-west London borough could be offered cash incentives to move abroad.

Harrow Council said offers of up to £20,000 could be made to those who were "already considering moving abroad" and it would be "entirely their choice".

It was one of the ideas presented to tenants and leaseholders at a meeting looking into freeing up housing stock.

Moving tenants into smaller homes and into private accommodation were other options being considered.

The local authority said it had 5,000 homes, which was one of the smallest stocks of social housing in the capital. It stressed the ideas discussed were at a "very early stage".

Councillor Bob Currie, portfolio holder for housing, said: "One idea was the possibility of offering an incentive to tenants already considering moving abroad - for example to retire, or to move nearer to a relative.

"It would only be offered to people considering a move away and it would be entirely their choice.

"Many different cash incentive schemes are being considered in order to free up vital housing stock.

"It must be stressed that there is no commitment to introducing any of the schemes at this time."