Tenants of North Lincolnshire biggest social landlord, North Lincolnshire Homes (NL Homes), are to be offered a cash boost of up to �3,500 if they �downsize� and move to a smaller home. The initiative has been launched to deal with a shortfall in available larger properties. North Lincolnshire Homes Tenants wishing to downsize are to be offered �2,500 in cash if the transfer results in a difference of two rooms, eg, four bed to two bed, or �1,500 if the transfer results in a difference of one bed. An additional �1,000 will be paid to tenants that move from a two, three or four bed family house, a three bed flat or two bed bungalow into Sheltered Housing. North Lincolnshire Homes will meet removal expenses up to a value of �500 subject to the tenant providing satisfactory receipts as proof of their expenditure on removals. The announcement from NL Homes comes as the government reveals plans to allow councils and housing associations to grant fixed term tenancies lasting at least two years for new tenants. The Department of Communities and Local Government has published a consultation document outlining plans to reform social housing in England - which include the option of shorter tenancies, as well as allowing social landlords to charge a higher rent for shorter term tenancies - of up to 80% of local market rents. The document says that new fixed term tenancies would have a minimum time period of at least two years but no maximum time period. When a fixed term tenancy came to an end, landlords would decide whether to reissue it, reflecting the tenants� levels of continuing need, work incentives and local pressures for social housing. North Lincolnshire Homes has devised the scheme in a bid to reduce the number of people its waiting list, many of whom are young families, as well as to reduce homelessness and overcrowding. Of its current housing stock, 45 per cent of them are one bedroom properties, with only 42 per cent being three bedroom or more. Pete Stones the Assistant Director of Regeneration at North Lincolnshire Homes has released the following statement, he�s said �It is clear from looking at our housing stock that we have an abundance of one to two bedroom homes, but fewer three and four bedroom houses that are desperately needed by families on our waiting list. As personal circumstances of existing tenants change, their current homes may become too large for them, harder to look after or more costly to run. Therefore, whilst not pressurising people to move, we are offering an incentive scheme which has been tried and tested by other housing associations to assist and encourage tenants who are considering moving into a smaller property.�