A government scheme designed to help tenants in social housing become more mobile has been welcomed by the Homeswapper national home-swap service.
The service, which helps connect tenants wanting to move into new homes with others in the same position, says that a new National Affordable Home Swap Scheme will provide new opportunities.
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The scheme, announced by the government at the beginning of August, is slated to give tenants the chance to see details of every other council and housing association tenant looking to exchange homes across the country.
This should provide a better route for leaving properties that no longer meet their needs, are in the wrong place for their job or too far away from an elderly relative who needs their support.
According to the Department for Communities and Local Government this meant that in 2008 less than a quarter of new lettings were given to existing tenants.
It also says that the new system will address the problem of 250,000 households living in overcrowded accommodation while a further 430,000 households are unable to easily downsize from larger properties they no longer need.
The government is also examining whether it should introduce a legal right to move for tenants and is working with the London Boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham to test the idea