A HELPING hand could be given to vulnerable council tenants wanting to move house.

Redditch Council executive committee is investigating a scheme which would help people wanting to move home but find it difficult - financially or physically.

This would include lone elderly tenants who may need help with packing, arranging and paying for a removal van.

Councillor Bill Hartnett said the plan would aid the choice-based lettings scheme, as previously if an older person was still living in a three-bedroom house, they may have been reluctant to move to a smaller property because it was too difficult.

He said: "This way everyone wins, the older person goes to the house they want and it frees up the three-bedroom house for a family who might need it."

Last Wednesday's executive meeting also agreed a revised housing allocations policy, based on a choice-based letting scheme.

Under the new initiative, there would be three core bandings.

Gold would be for people who are unintentionally homeless or those who have a medical or social priority.

The silver band would be for applicants needing a house because they have children in flats or not enough bedrooms, or those who have been on the housing register for a significant number of years.

And bronze would include all other people who are thought to be adequately housed.

Priority for housing will be decided on a points system based on the housing need of the applicant, with different points awarded for various criteria such as number of years waiting, and children living in various accommodation.