Transfers, Exchanges and Buying your Home

In future you may need to move house, for example, if members of your family leave home or you have more children. This information sheet explains the options open to you.

How to transfer

Using a transfer form which you can get from our offices
Our Lettings Team will answer any queries, and can help you fill in the form
A Housing Officer will visit you to discuss your request
Your rent must be up to date, your home in a good condition, and ideally you will have been a tenant for twelve months
From the information on your form, points will be awarded
Your name will go onto our Housing Register
Your points score will determine your position on the register

How to exchange

You can see the list of people wishing to exchange, at our office
When you find a suitable exchange, you and the other person must seek permission (you will contact us) before you exchange
This system is only available to Local Authority and Housing Association tenants, not for private tenants
We will visit you and the other tenant to discuss the exchange
We will obtain a tenancy report form the other landlord
If everything is o.k., we will contact you to arrange a date for this exchange

You will have to take your new property as you find it. We will repair the structure but you will be responsible for decorating it and fixing any damage that was caused by the last tenant. If you think the property needs to be redecorated or any damage repaired before you move in, you will have to arrange this with the other tenant.

Moving to another area?

A Housing Officer will contact Councils and Housing Associations in your areas of choice. They will consider your application, and, if they accept it, will put you on their waiting list.

The right to acquire

In certain limited circumstances you may be allowed to apply to purchase the property you live in.

To make an application you must be a secure or an assured tenant of a public sector body (e.g. a council or Housing Association Tenant) for at least two years (although not continuously) and you must occupy a property that is self contained and has been wholly or partly funded by Social Housing Grant after the 1st April 1997.

If you think you may be eligible to apply to purchase your home and would like further details on how the scheme works, please contact our Lettings Department.