FIVE per cent of eligible households in Brentwood have applied to downsize their property since the introduction of the so-called "bedroom tax" in April.
Brentwood Borough Council estimates another 200 rooms could be freed up from around 177 households in the borough affected by the spare room subsidy.
The council has announced plans to encourage more tenants to take up the benefit scheme.
One tenant affected by the housing benefit cut is Sharon Grundy, 51, who works part-time and suffers health issues.
She currently rents a three-bedroom property in Hawthorn Avenue with her daughter, Louise, 19.
"I don't think it will be successful," she said. "We've been looking on the website but there's nothing on there that suits us."
"To bring in money, we have to go to work and we can't afford spending too much on bus fares but from where we live now we can both walk to work."
Despite searching, Ms Grundy claims there is little chance of her downsizing in the immediate future due to a lack of social housing available in the borough.
She added: "I haven't got a problem with moving at all but I don't see why I should give up my three-bedroom house for something terrible. When I've been to visit other places I couldn't believe what I saw. It really did shock me. In one case, you had to see it to believe it."
A recent public consultation on a new draft Allocation Policy proposes greater priority for tenants wishing to downsize. The final policy will be recommended at the Community Services Committee on October 8.
The council also pays a grant of £1,000 per room for tenants downsizing by a transfer.
Councillor Jan Pound, chairman of the Community Services Committee, said: "We're hopeful that people will be encouraged.
"This isn't a Draconian attitude we're taking. We're hoping to encourage people to downsize.
"We can free up houses so we can have the large properties for the families who need them. We're heartened that people are coming to us with that in mind."
