Croydon Council is exploring a new approach to social housing, encouraging residents in larger properties who require additional support to downsize. This initiative aims to free up homes for families in need and forms part of the council's broader Stabilisation Plan, which includes specific housing-related targets that are parts of the cross-cutting priorities in the corporate Stabilisation Plan, for example how the Housing directorate was planning to reduce their agency spend. The proposal was discussed at a recent Scrutiny & Overview Committee meeting on Tuesday 22 July 2025, where members reviewed recommendations from the Homes Sub-Committee.
The Homes Sub-Committee had previously suggested exploring options within the Stabilisation Plan to encourage residents requiring additional support to downsize from larger social housing. This recommendation aims to address the demand pressures on social housing in the borough. The committee specified that extra care and sheltered accommodation voids should be included when exploring options to encourage downsizing.
The Scrutiny & Overview Committee reviewed and approved the recommendations arising from the Homes Sub-Committee meeting on 19 June 2025, which included the downsizing proposal. The recommendations will now be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration.
The Scrutiny & Overview Committee meeting also covered a range of other topics. However, the focus remained on addressing the housing crisis and finding innovative solutions to manage demand.
The recommendations arising from the Homes Sub-Committee meeting on 19 June 2025, are included in Appendix 5 - Homes 19-06-25 Recommendations.
