Councils will have to provide at least 1% of their social housing stock for tenants who move for work or training, under new plans announced yesterday.

Communities secretary, Eric Pickles, confirmed the Government will be pushing ahead with new regulations to prevent tenants from having to give up their social housing tenancy if they decide to relocate for a new job or apprenticeship.

Councils will need to adopt a ‘Right to Move’ guarantee for all existing social housing tenants, and set aside a small proportion of lets for those who need to move for work.

Mr Pickles said: ‘Tenants who want to work hard and get on in life should be supported in their goal – not penalized for it.

‘Councils will now have to work to ensure social tenants are no longer forced to choose between their home or the chance of a new job which could transform their lives.’

Under the new plans, councils will also have to extend the ‘hardship’ criteria to include those moving for work.