Downsizing

Your downsizing options

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You might be thinking about downsizing if your current home feels too large - perhaps because family members have moved out or your circumstances have changed. This page explains your downsizing options.

Downsizing can have clear benefits, such as more manageable living spaces and lower utility bills.

By moving to a smaller home, you’ll also help to free up larger properties for families who need more space, ensuring that we can make best use of our properties.

There are three ways to start the downsizing process, but some might be quicker than others. We've included full details on each downsizing option below.

A mutual exchange might be the quickest option for downsizing

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1. Through a mutual exchange, you’re able to 'swap' your property with another Bolton at Home tenant, a tenant of another housing association, or a council tenant living outside of Bolton.

A mutual exchange could be ideal if you’re looking to downsize or move to another location, and it can be much quicker than the two other options listed below.

You need to meet certain eligibility criteria, including not being a starter tenant, to be able to access the mutual exchange scheme.

For more information on mutual exchanges, eligibility, and how to start the process, tap here.

You can contact us to explain that you'd like to downsize

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2. We might be able to help you downsize through our 'Management Move' process.

If you let us know you’d like to downsize and it’s deemed appropriate for your situation, we’ll actively attempt to identify properties that might meet your needs (for example, if you want to move from a three-bedroomed house to a one-bedroomed house) through what’s known as our Management Move process.

Please remember that it’s unlikely we’ll be able to meet your exact needs in terms of property size, type, or location – but we’ll do our best to ensure you have a property that better suits your current needs.

Tap here to see our main contact details if you’d like to discuss downsizing with us.

You can contact your local choice-based lettings scheme (such as Homes for Bolton) to explain you'd like to downsize

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3. Many choice-based lettings schemes (like Homes for Bolton) will place a high priority/needs status against your application when you tell them you'd like to downsize.

You’ll then be placed alongside other residents with high priority/needs status on the housing register, meaning it could be some time before you’ll be shortlisted for downsizing options. In most cases, it’s much quicker to downsize using one of the options above.

**You can tap here to find the choice-based lettings scheme for your borough on our website.