Family homes freed up in Coventry thanks to new initiative

To tackle housing need in the city Whitefriars Housing tenants who are living in homes which are too big for their needs are being offered help to down-size.

Working with Coventry City Council, Whitefriars is helping tenants living in Coventry homes with three or more bedrooms who want to move into smaller homes. This is making larger family homes available for people who need them.

If people have lived in a Whitefriars home for more than one year and have a clear rent account then they can receive help to move. This may include help with packing and removals, decoration, flooring, and curtains or blinds for their new home.

One couple to have benefitted from the new scheme is Jim and Mary Elvidge. The couple lived in Hampton Road, Edgwick, for 25 years where they raised four children, but as they got older they found that the house and garden was too much for them. Now they have moved to a one-bedroom bungalow in Coundon.

Jim said: "We were only using one of the three bedrooms in our old house and it was getting too big for us to look after. We are really happy in our new bungalow. We've got some lovely neighbours, we're close to the shops and there is space to walk Tommy our dog.

"Whitefriars helped us move by arranging the removals and we could leave the furniture we didn't need and they got rid of it. Moving home can be a difficult thing to do but we're really happy where we are now."

Gaynor Reynolds, head of tenancy management, housing and community services at Whitefriars Housing, said: "We realise that there are a lot of people who remain living in the same home where they raised their family and the house is now too large for their needs. It can also be very expensive to pay for gas and electricity to heat large homes.

"These homes are now needed for families in the city. If people want to down-size then this new scheme gives them the help and support they need to make the move. We understand it can be a big step moving out of the family home but as Mr and Mrs Elvidge have found, it can be beneficial."

"We have a dedicated officer who can talk to anyone wanting to free up their family-sized home about how the scheme works and about any concerns that they have."

Councillor Tony Skipper, Coventry City Council's Cabinet Member for Housing, said: "I am pleased that we are able to partner Whitefriars Housing in this exciting project.

"The Council experiences severe difficulties with the lack of family sized accommodation in the city. There is great demand for family housing from people who are homeless or who have been waiting a long time for a family home.

"This scheme helps both the households moving into and out of family housing.  The Council is committed to meeting the housing needs of vulnerable people where ever it can."

If you are a Whitefriars Housing tenant and are interested in moving to a smaller sized home please contact Richard Darbyshire on 024 7676 7126.