We aim to make best use of our properties to create and maintain balanced, sustainable communities through our housing policies.
We like people to have the home that best suits their needs. As these needs change you may need to move to another property - we have a transfer policy to help you move.
Transfer list
- we assess transfer requests using a points scheme reflecting your housing needs
- we encourage transfer requests to deal with overcrowding, the need to give or receive family support and for under occupation.
- we will consider transfer requests to help victims of harassment and violence. We call these management transfers. We do not assess them using the point’s scheme.
- if you wish to transfer you should have had a minimum period of 6 months as a tenant in your current property before we would normally consider a transfer request unless there is a severe medical need or urgent need for a management transfer.
- you should normally have a clear rent account and owe no other housing related debt to us at the date the transfer takes place.
- you should normally have kept your tenancy satisfactorily and have kept the property in a clean and reasonable condition. If a Notice of Seeking Possession (NOSP) or a Suspended Possession Order (SPO) has been served for a breach of tenancy, and is still in force, we would not normally allow a transfer until the conditions of the NOSP or SPO have been satisfied.
- it is a condition of the transfer that on leaving the property it should be in a satisfactory decorative condition, without any repairs for which you are responsible.
Management transfers
In exceptional circumstances, where no other housing solution is possible, we would consider a management transfer to another house. Examples include:
- severe harassment
- severe violence
- urgent social reasons
- urgent medical reasons
Where the request is for urgent medical reasons the following criteria will apply:
- where there is an immediate high risk of injury or death if the family remained in their current home or
- where there is an immediate high risk of family breakdown or mental illness if the family remain in their current home and the only solution would be an urgent move from their current home.
All cases must be supported by appropriate agencies.
The Head of Housing and Community Services will approve a management transfer and any management transfer lettings are reported to our Housing Operations Committee.
Capital works programme: transfers
Where we are carrying out substantial modernisation of your home, you may need to move out to allow us to carry out the work. This move may be on a temporary or a permanent basis. Transfers to another property to help with capital works programmes are given priority.
Transfer scheme points details
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Category - overcrowding
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Points
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We consider that a separate bedroom is necessary for:
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Each couple living together |
20 |
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A parent in a single parent family |
20 |
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Each adult aged 18 or over |
20 |
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Each child aged 11 or over having to share with a child of the opposite sex |
20 |
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Each person considered medically to need a separate bedroom
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20 |
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Special considerations
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Children sharing parents bedroom |
30
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Living at height
A maximum of 10 points will be awarded for families who have a child under the age of 11 living in a first floor flat, or above, with a common entrance
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10 |
Medical need
Part of the home cannot be used because you have a health condition or impairment. The unsuitable part must be essential living accommodation: that is bathroom/toilet/kitchen/bedroom. Registrations under this section must be supported by a doctor’s confirmation |
15 |
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If we are satisfied that you or anyone included in your registration is in poor health, which is made worse by where you live, medical points can be awarded up to a maximum of 35.
Registrations under this section must be supported by a health assessment form supplied by us.You can download a copy of the health assessment form here
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5-35 |
Older people
Applicants over pensionable age living above the ground floor without the use of a lift. Health problem or disability prevents maintenance or upkeep of the current home or garden |
10 |
Under Occupation
Points will be awarded for each bedroom the applicant has that they will be giving up on transfer |
eg 3 bedroom property to 1 bedroom property = 2 beds = 40 points – 20 points per bedroom |
Points will only be awarded for your household, excluding lodgers, subtenants
We will award 5 points for each complete 12-month period of your tenancy with us (or from the date of succession/ assignation).
Social need
Points will be awarded in only one category (a-c) with points from (d ) if appropriate.
We will award points to take into account other housing related problems or needs:
a. sufferers of domestic violence * 15
b. sufferers of racial or other harassment (including serious neighbour disputes) * 15
c. moving from one of our estates to another to take up employment in the area 15
d. special considerations 5-15
* Where possible the above should be supported by confirmation from social services, police, doctor, or landlord.
Family separation
10 points will be awarded where children have to live separately from both their parents because of overcrowding
Note 1
- a bedroom under 50sq ft will not be counted as accommodation and will be treated as if not available for use.
- a bedroom under 80sq ft will only be suitable for the use of one person. If two or more people occupy it 20 points will be awarded as if the room is suitable for use by one person.
Note 2
- we do not award points for the length of time you are registered on the transfer list