THE number of families looking to exchange their properties has more than doubled in a year, according to the borough's biggest provider of social housing.
Enquiries for swapping homes by mutual exchange – in which those living in social housing can swap with other families – rose to 59 during January to April this year compared to just 27 during the same period last year.
According to Raven Housing, which provides the majority of social housing in the Reigate and Banstead borough, some residents are looking to downsize their homes in an effort to avoid the controversial "bedroom tax", although they said it is too early to tell if this is the only major factor.
A spokesman added that other residents are looking to downsize in an effort to give younger couples the chance to move into a home big enough for a family.
Sharon Ward, 41, says she moved out of her three bedroom house in South Park after 16 years because she felt it was important younger people had a chance to build the memories she had.
"We just wanted to downsize," said the checkout worker. "It was only me and my boyfriend living in the house after my daughter moved out nine months ago and we thought it would be nice to let a family live in that house."
Changes to the benefits system which came into force in April effectively penalise people with spare rooms.
Anyone living in social housing that is deemed too big for their needs can now lose 14 per cent of their benefits if they have one spare room and 25 per cent if they have more than one.
On the pressure being put on some people to move into smaller homes, in particular older people with spare rooms, she added: "I don't think they should be forced to move but there should be that option. Whatever the reason is, why should you have to move out of your family home? But I do feel sometimes that people should consider downsizing."
While it is too early to say whether the "bedroom tax" is making people look for smaller homes to prevent them from falling into rent arrears, according to Sue Lea, communications officer at Raven Housing, this may become a factor in the next few months as temporary payments provided by the government run out.
She added: "There are a number of reasons why we can't tell the impact of this yet, including the fact that a number of our residents applied for, and got, discretionary housing payments.
"These only last for six months, and it's a finite pot of money, which will run out at some point."
