Choice Based Mobility

Choice Based Mobility is housingmoves' new initiative that helps households move out of London to properties across England. Landlords notify housingmoves of their available properties and this information is shared with households looking to relocate.

The properties available through CBM tend to be in sheltered accommodation. Occasionally we are notified of general needs properties but demand for general needs social housing across England is extremely high.

The commonly held perception of sheltered housing is of residential homes with shared washing and kitchen facilities with little space or privacy but nowadays this couldn't be further from the truth.

In fact, today's sheltered housing is not an 'old people's home' at all but instead offers totally independent living in a secure environment. Sheltered housing can also offer independent living through improved mobility, good health, safety and lack of dependency on others.

Furthermore sheltered housing is definitely not residential care. Most sheltered housing providers do not provide care at all although they are usually able to assist residents to access it. Instead it is simply housing for older people in specially allocated schemes, sometimes with a warden or manager on hand to help residents deal with emergencies and maintain the communal areas.

Despite being called sheltered these properties are actually self-contained units in tastefully decorated, clean blocks. Many come with balconies or small garden areas and are often situated near the coast or within main towns and cities. Although communal entertainment may be offered on occasion it is not obligatory and often, as residents get older, some of the drop-in services such as health visitors and hairdressers can become useful.

Across the country local authorities who otherwise have lengthy waiting lists for general needs housing have a surplus of sheltered housing so applying for re-housing through our Choice Based Mobility initiative may well increase your chances of a successful move. Landlords who are willing to offer housingmoves customers the chance to move into their housing can be found on the landlords section.

Rents and service charges vary but are usually met through Housing Benefit or Income Support. You can choose the area you wish to live in, your landlord and the size and type of property you move to. You can also choose to have increased levels of support should you so wish.

WHO can apply and HOW

The Choice Based Mobility initiative is open to households living in Council or Housing Association housing in Greater London aged 55 or above.

We are unable to accept applications where members of the households are under 55 years of age. Download our Tenant Flyer PDF (180 KB) and find out more about Choice Based Mobility.

You can apply by filling out an application form. These are available from your local council and from the housingmoves office, or you can download the CBM Registration Form here (PDF 379 kb) >

Please use the Landlords section to see where the Choice Based Mobility landlords are located.

Please use the Guidance Notes for Choice Based Mobility Applicants (PDF 1.0 mb) to help you complete the form.

Please visit the Accessibility page if you need help with downloading PDF files.

Contact the Choice Based Mobility Team

Nominations Team - 020 7821 2557

Email: enquiries [at] housingmoves.org
(Please replace [at] with the @ symbol if sending an email.)

Telephone: 08450 21 20 20

Write to us: Choice Based Mobility, c/o housingmoves, First Floor, 242 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London. SW1V 1AU