Moving home FAQs
When will construction start?
A planning application was submitted to the Council in November 2009 and full planning permission was granted in March 2010. We are now working towards starting construction work in autumn 2010.
What will the regeneration involve?
Each block of flats and houses will eventually be demolished, to enable the construction of the new homes. This process will be completed over a period of approximately 10 years. This means that as many tenants as possible will be able to move out of their present homes directly into new homes.
What does all this mean for me and my family?
All residents will be advised on the regeneration timeline once the masterplan has been finalised and a planning application has been submitted to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC).
If you live in one of the first blocks to be regenerated, you will be visited by Yvonne Williams, our Resident Liaison Officer for Wornington Green. Yvonne will discuss with you your family's housing needs and explain your choices for a new home.
How can I afford to move home? Will Kensington Housing Trust help with the costs?
All residents who have lived in their present home for at least a year and have to move because of the regeneration will be entitled to a Home Loss Payment. This payment is currently £4,700.
Residents will also receive a Disturbance Payment to cover removal costs and other costs - such as the disconnection and reconnection of appliances, and buying new carpets and curtains.
Other payments will depend on your circumstances. If you are an 'under occupier', have more bedrooms than you need and would like to downsize to a smaller property, KHT could pay you £5,000 for each bedroom you give up, £2,000 for giving up a garden and £8,000 for giving up a house.
For example, if you live in a three-bedroom property with a garden and you move to a two-bedroom flat, you would receive £15,000.
If you would like to arrange an appointment to talk about any of these payments, please contact Yvonne Williams, Resident Liaison Officer, on 020 8964 6415.
I would like to move to another area as soon as possible. Do I have to wait until there is a firm timetable for the redevelopment of the estate?
No. We are already working to identify suitable accommodation for residents who have told us that they want to move away from Wornington Green. If you are keen to move as soon as possible you should contact Yvonne Williams, Resident Liaison Officer, on 020 8964 6415.
We will give priority to residents who:
• wish to move away from Wornington Green (either in London or elsewhere)
• are flexible and don’t mind whether they are re-housed
• have adult household members who would like to be rehoused separately, away from Wornington Green.
My family is very overcrowded in our present home. Can something be done about this now?
Yes. There are a number of ways we can help if you are overcrowded. To discuss your circumstances, please contact Yvonne Williams, Resident Liaison Officer, on 020 8964 6415.
My present home is larger than I need – but I would like to keep a spare room. Will this be possible?
Yes. If you want to have one more bedroom than you actually need, then we will take this into account when we make you an offer. This only applies if you are ‘under-occupying’ at present (i.e. you have more bedrooms than you currently need).
I have lived close to my present neighbours for many years. Is there a way we can be moved to the same part of the new estate?
We recognise that the great sense of community is important to residents on Wornington Green. This is why we are working to produce a rehousing plan which keeps neighbours together.
I understand that the new homes will all be flats. I have lived in a house with a garden for many years and I really don’t want to move into a flat.
If you want to stay on Wornington Green or in the immediate area, it is very unlikely that we shall be able to offer you another house. However, if you are prepared to move elsewhere, we may be able to find you something through our parent company, Catalyst Housing Group or through the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Please bear in mind, though, that there is a shortage of houses with gardens at affordable rents in London. However, in recognition of what you are giving up, we will make you a payment of £10,000 to move to a flat.
I don’t live in a house, but I do have a garden of my own. I would rather not give it up.
If you want to stay on Wornington Green or in the immediate area, it is very unlikely that we shall be able to offer you another flat with a garden. However, if you are prepared to move elsewhere, we may be able to find you something through our parent company, Catalyst Housing Group or through RBKC. There is, however, a shortage of flats with gardens at affordable rents in London. You should also note that flats with gardens - because they usually have few stairs - are most likely to be allocated to tenants with limited mobility. If we can't find you a flat with a garden, then we will offer you a payment of £2,000.
I am on benefits. Will these be affected if I accept such a payment?
You can usually accept up to £6,000 in financial support without your benefit entitlement being affected. If you are offered more than this, then you may prefer to take the extra amount as enhancements to your new home, such as some new furniture for your new kitchen.
You say that if my children are grown up and still living with me, they can be given separate tenancies, but we all want to stay together.
We are fully aware that some families will prefer to stay together and we will do our best to build a number of larger flats to make this possible. Alternatively, it may be possible for us to offer you two flats close together.
I really don’t want to move into a temporary flat – even for a short period. How will you decide if this is necessary?
We realise that temporary moves will not be popular and we will try our best to have as few of these as possible. However, particularly in the early part of the redevelopment, there may not be enough new homes of the right size to meet everyone’s needs. You may also have particular requirements (such as a need for ground floor accommodation) that cannot be met until more of the new homes have been built. If you do have to move into a temporary home, we will make every effort to find you something locally. Where we have no option but to move you out of the borough for a short period, we will assist you with meeting any extra cost associated with your need to relocate temporarily (e.g. extra travel cost).
Tenants who have medical problems, who are disabled or have children in local schools or where a temporary stay out of the area would have a particularly detrimental effect on their circumstances, will be given priority for local accommodation.
Will I have to pay more rent for my new home?
If you move permanently from Wornington Green to another KHT property, we guarantee that your total rent will be no higher than the rent you would pay for a similar size property on Wornington Green. We regret that we cannot give this guarantee if you move to a property belonging to another landlord.
How do I know that the new homes you offer me will be suitable?
In developing the emerging masterplan proposals for Wornington Green, we have been using accurate housing needs surveys to find out exactly how many bedrooms you require and what type of property will be most suitable. Once a new home is ready, we will give you two homes to choose from. Should you need to be re-housed temporarily while your new home is built on Wornington Green, we will also give you two choices of accomodation.
What happens if I don’t want to accept any of your offers of new homes?
From listening to you at our consultation events and from carrying out ongoing housing surveys, the regeneration will provide the right-sized homes to meet your needs and size of household. However, if you are unhappy with KHT's offer, you can appeal. To find out how to appeal, please contact Yvonne Williams, Resident Liaison Officer, on 020 8964 6415.