onthemove

Are you aged 55 or over and looking for a modern, accessible home in a vibrant community setting?

Piers Lodge, a brand-new Independent Living Scheme in the city centre, will soon be available through Choice Based Lettings (CBL).

Designed to support independent living, Piers Lodge offers high-quality one and two-bedroom apartments with level access, wet rooms and private balconies or terraces. Residents will benefit from a range of excellent facilities including:

• On-site café and residents' lounge
•  Landscaped communal gardens
•  Hotel-style guest suite for visiting family and friends
•  Mobility scooter storage
•  Pet-friendly accommodation
• Dedicated wellbeing support through the Be Well 360 service
• Excellent transport links with a bus stop directly outside the scheme

The development has also been designed with sustainability in mind, featuring air source heat pumps, solar panels and enhanced biodiversity measures.

Priority for Downsizers

Priority will be given to social housing tenants with spare bedrooms who are looking to downsize, helping to free up larger family homes for those in need.

Eligible council tenants who downsize may also qualify for a financial incentive of £1,000 per bedroom released, up to a maximum of £3,000.

Further details, photographs and bidding information will be available soon. Keep an eye on CBL for updates and upcoming advertising dates.

Southend-on-Sea City Council is encouraging South Essex Homes tenants who may be under-occupying their homes to consider moving to a smaller, more suitable property through the Tenant Incentive Scheme (TIS).

The scheme is designed to support tenants whose housing needs have changed—for example, where children have grown up and moved on—by offering both financial incentives and practical help to make downsizing easier.

What support is available?

Tenants who downsize may be eligible for:

• £1,000 for each bedroom given up, up to a maximum of £3,000 (subject to available funding)
• High ‘Band A’ priority on the housing register
• Priority for new-build council homes
• Practical support throughout the move, including help with removals
• Additional incentives if moving into a hard-to-let property

Why consider downsizing?

Downsizing can help tenants move into a home that better suits their current needs, while also freeing up larger family homes for households who need them most. The Tenant Incentive Scheme aims to make this process as straightforward and supported as possible.

South Essex Homes will work closely with tenants at every stage—from identifying suitable properties to helping them settle into their new home.

Find out more

If you’re a Southend council tenant and think downsizing could be right for you, further information about eligibility and how to apply is available here:
Downsizing | South Essex Homes