Transfers and Exchanges

We can use 25% of our housing vacancies for tenants who want to move to other accommodation within our housing area. We keep a separate list of those who want to apply for a transfer. It is often worth adding your name to the transfer list even if you don't currently wish to transfer, as you may do in the future. Transfers are now allocated to those who have been on the transfer list the longest.

If you want to move to another property that belongs to us, you must have kept your home in good condition and have had a clear rent account for six months. If you fit these criteria and have your name on the transfer list, you will eventually get the opportunity to move.

Moving from a flat to a house

As a family living in a flat you will be considered for a transfer to a house. You must have at least one child under 14 and be using the tenancy address as your only home.

To accept you on the transfer list and to be given a transfer offer, you must:

be keeping your existing home in an acceptable condition
be up to date with your rent and any other payments to us.

Offer of accommodation and refusals

When you apply for accommodation with us through a nomination from the Council's Housing Register, make sure you meet our allocation criteria. We will be looking at things like your income, any record of previous arrears and your tenancy history.

We can refuse an application but we must give good reasons for doing so. Reasons for refusal can include:

unsatisfactory references
not enough evidence of a satisfactory package or care and support - where someone has just left prison or psychiatric care, for example
previous evidence of drug dealing or antisocial behaviour
debts, such as rent arrears, where no formal repayment plan has been agreed or kept up.

Appeals

There are two ways that you can appeal:

If you were nominated by the Council and are not happy with the property we offered you, you will be able to use the Council's appeal procedure.
If you were offered a transfer and are not happy with the property offered, you can appeal to us using our customer feedback policy. Properties will not be kept vacant while an appeal is being processed.

The Housing Corporation's Residents Charter explains the standards you can expect from us.