Government housing plans

The government is to outline plans for a social housing 'freedom pass' that will allow the UK's eight million social housing tenants to swap to another property anywhere in the country.

The National Home Swap Scheme will allow for more flexibility in changing circumstances and give those who need extra room a chance to find more suitable accommodation.

But the 'freedom pass' will also mean some tenants are forced to move to a smaller property or face cuts in their housing benefit.

Chancellor George Osborne announced a "package of reforms" set to cut the housing benefit bill in the emergency Budget, including the punitive housing benefit removal "for working age claimants occupying a larger property than their household size warrants".