Private tenants
As a private tenant it is unlikely that you can make your home larger. You will probably have to consider other housing. This might mean:
If you are legally overcrowded and you make a homeless application the council will probably have to give you some advice and help. If the council decide that it is no longer reasonable for you to continue to live in the property they will have to help you find a home, or in some situations, help you work out a way to stay in your current home. In severe cases, the council might have to provide you with alternative emergency accommodation.
You may get priority on the waiting list for a council or housing association tenancy. How quickly you would get a place depends on the number of people on the waiting list and the amount of housing available. Many councils have very long waiting lists and a shortage of properties suitable for large families.
Council and housing association tenants
It may be possible to get a transfer to another property owned by the council or housing association. Most councils have a waiting list – ask for information about the rules. You may have to wait a long time for somewhere suitable, especially if you need a large property.
Alternatively, you may be able to swap homes by mutual exchange with another tenant, possibly in another part of the country. You must both have permission from your landlords and the exchange must be arranged properly. Otherwise, you could both lose your homes.
Don’t give up an overcrowded home without getting advice first. You could risk not being able to get another council or housing association home.