Council tenants in the London Borough of Harrow could receive up to £20,000 to move abroad to help free up much needed housing.

Harrow Council says the cash incentives would only be made to those who were "already considering moving abroad" and it would be "entirely their choice".

The BBC reports that the idea was presented to tenants and leaseholders at a meeting looking into ways of freeing up housing stock. Moving tenants into smaller homes and into private accommodation were other options being considered.

The local authority said it had only 5,000 homes, which was one of the smallest stocks of social housing in the capital. It stressed the idea was still at a "very early stage".

Councillor Bob Currie, portfolio holder for housing, told the BBC: "One idea was the possibility of offering an incentive to tenants already considering moving abroad - for example to retire, or to move nearer to a relative.

"It would only be offered to people considering a move away and it would be entirely their choice.

"Many different cash incentive schemes are being considered in order to free up vital housing stock.

"It must be stressed that there is no commitment to introducing any of the schemes at this time."