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Rightsizing

Helping you find the right-sized home

We want all our customers to live in homes that meet their needs. However, the UK is facing a housing crisis, and finding a home that’s the right size can be a challenge.

Overcrowding and under-occupation

Living in a home that’s too small can have a significant impact on families. Research from the National Housing Federation reveals:

  • Over 310,000 children in England are forced to share beds with family members.
  • 70% of overcrowded families report poor mental and physical health as a direct result of overcrowding.
  • A quarter of parents in overcrowded homes often sleep in living rooms, hallways, or other non-bedrooms due to lack of space.

At the same time, some homes are under-occupied, meaning they have more space than the household needs. By addressing both under-occupation and overcrowding, we can help more families find homes that suit their needs.

The current challenge

Each year, Curo re-lets around 700 properties through local authority waiting lists, but demand far outweighs availability. Many people on these lists are in urgent need of housing due to living in homes that are too small.

  • Only 1% of re-let homes in 2024 had four bedrooms (just eight homes in total).
  • 17% of re-let homes had three bedrooms.

We recently partnered with the University of Bath to research how housing allocations might work in the future, and we would like to hear your thoughts as part of this research. If you’d like to help us with this research, please email: lettings.services@curo-group.co.uk

Support for downsizing

If you’re thinking about moving to a smaller home but feel uncertain about the process, we’re here to help. The moving process can feel overwhelming, but you may qualify for practical support, including:

  • Support clearing arrears caused by the bedroom tax (under-occupancy charge).
  • Guidance to ensure your current property is ready for re-letting.

If you live in Bath & North East Somerset and are downsizing by at least one bedroom from a three-bedroom or larger home, the local council can award you Band A priority on the housing register, making it easier for you to move. This also helps free up your home for a family in need of more space.

Get in touch

For advice or to explore your options: