New homes and jobs scheme for social tenants

The government has issued a consultation paper on the housing and employment mobility scheme, which will offer mobility services to landlords, their tenants and applicants for social housing.

The scheme’s organisers claim it will be the first to offer housing vacancies and job opportunity information on one website.

It is sponsored by the ODPM, Jobcentre Plus, the Home Office, the Scottish executive, the Welsh assembly and the Northern Ireland assembly.

The programme will build on the existing services provided by ODPM-sponsored body Housing Organisation Mobility and Exchange Services (Homes) and LAWN, the Association of London Government scheme that helps tenants move out of the capital to areas with a surfeit of social housing.

It will be the first to offer housing vacancies and job information in one web-based package

Core services to be provided by the scheme include an advertised properties service, an improved home-swap and information on participating social landlords.

It also offers a LAWN-type service that would be extended across the South-east, information to help people decide what sector they want to work in and promotion of the Seaside and Country Homes scheme, which helps those who want to live in rural areas.