New scheme from River Clyde Homes to tackle overcrowding crisis

In recent months concern has been growing about the number of families stuck in houses too small for them, because of a lack of suitable properties.

Local councillors have been campaigning for action to be taken to change allocation policies and invest in new housing.

Following talks with River Clyde Homes bosses a new pilot is to be launched in Port Glasgow in an attempt to address the issue.

The aim is to encourage older tenants to downsize and free up homes.

But some campaigners fear it won't be enough.

Elaine Cannon, service improvement manager at River Clyde Homes, said: “We are piloting a downsizing campaign in an effort to free-up larger homes for applicants who are living in overcrowded accommodation.

"We will be contacting customers shortly who have a live application, who are under-occupying their property and are interested in moving at this time.

"We will be focusing on offering rehousing at the new St Stephen’s development in Port Glasgow and we will offer incentives to make their move hassle-free.

"If the pilot is successful we will look at extending it.”

The move by RCH, the area's largest landlord, follows talks with independent councillors and Labour's Colin Jackson.

Independent Tommy McVey said: "It’s very difficult to gauge how many larger homes will become available as a result of the pilot project.

"Nevertheless, I feel it is something worth trying if it helps young families get a larger home.

"Older tenants will also benefit by getting a smaller home, more suitable to their needs, with a lower rent and reduced energy costs."

Councillor Jackson has been campaigning on overcrowding in a bid to 'shame' social landlords into taking action.

He previously highlighted a flaw in the points system that penalises families and sees them ending up stuck in overcrowded conditions.

Many desperate tenants end up stuck in houses that are too small.

Cllr Jackson says much more needs to be done if housing bosses are serious about tackling the issue properly.

He said: "It is now widely accepted by all Inverclyde's social landlords that we have a huge shortage of larger properties in Inverclyde and an admission that current and future house building programmes will do nothing to alleviate the problem.

"This new initiative - though welcome - is complete trial and error, a sticking plaster approach to overcrowding that falls well short of a coherent and structured housebuilding strategy that could and should have addressed the issue.

"As yet we do not know if this initiative will free up any of the larger properties, as moving house can be very expensive and for many there could be no economic advantage in downsizing.

"For every home that does become available and some lucky family gets to move, there will be a queue of unsuccessful families watching anxiously for another property to become available."