Transfers & Exchanges

Transfer

One of our duties is to make the best use of our housing stock, as well as looking after your interests. To help achieve this, we may be able to arrange a transfer from one property to another if you need to move to a more suitable dwelling. You should remember, however, that there is a large demand for homes and we are not able to help everyone immediately.

Transfers are in accordance with our allocation policy. This allocation scheme takes into account the length of time the applicant has been waiting for a transfer and the level of their priority. If you wish to move simply because you do not like your present home you may have a long wait. You must, except in certain circumstances, have a clear rent account and your home must comply with the City Council's Tenancy Conditions.
Before an offer of accommodation can be made, a survey of the property will be carried out to ensure that it complies with the Tenancy Conditions. You will be notified when the visit will take place if your application is accepted.

Transfer Policy

For administrative purposes the housing transfer list is held separately to the Joint Housing Register. Where applicants are already secure / assured, or introductory tenants of another local authority or a registered social landlord, their application will be considered for the transfer list rather than the housing register.

Note: Those tenants downsizing by at least one bedroom may qualify for a payment of £1000 under Winchester City Council's Wise Move Incentive Scheme.

Other conditions

Transfer applicants will, save in exceptional circumstances, be expected to have a clear rent account prior to being offered a tenancy of alternative accommodation.

Winchester City Council reserves the right at all times to make allocations of accommodation that make the best use of the housing stock available to it at any given time.

How to apply

If you would like more information on transfers and exchanges, please enquire to the Housing Needs Section at the City Offices, or telephone 01962 84 84 00 to obtain an application form.

Once your application has been assessed, you will be admitted to the transfer register and you will be advised accordingly. You will be considered for a move, in turn with others on the Transfer List. Due to a high demand on a limited housing stock, you may have a long wait, particularly if a move is for reasons of choice rather than housing need, or if requesting a move to a popular area.

Exchange - (by way of assignment)

You can arrange your own move by a mutual exchange. Exchanges are moves where you arrange to swap homes with someone else. All secure tenants have the right to apply to swap their homes with another local authority or housing association tenant. Provided your tenancy has been satisfactory and both dwellings are suitable to accommodate respective housing needs, approval can be given within a six week period. Our permission MUST be sought and will normally only be withheld where dwellings which have been built for persons with special needs are concerned, or where under or over occupation is likely to occur.
The City Council permits exchanges where the property to which the applicant is moving is one room above housing need.
There are, however, grounds on which approval of your exchange can be delayed, such as rent arrears. You must have a clear rent account before an exchange can take place. A visit will be arranged within four weeks of receiving your application.

Incoming tenants take property as seen. They are given a copy of the surveyors report so that they have full information regarding the property they are moving to.

The exchange does not count as a Succession and will not affect a secure tenant's Right to Succeed in the future. However if a Succession has already carried out, a new tenancy obtained by an exchange does not give a new Right to Succeed.

A letter will be sent to you once a year in order to confirm that you still wish to remain on the transfer/exchange register. It will also ask if there have been any changes in your circumstances since first registering your application. If no response to this letter is received within 28 days, your name will be removed from the register.

An exchange register for those who wish to exchange homes is on display at the Customer Service Centre in the City Offices, which is open to members of the public from Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm.

Moving To Another Area

Council, housing association and housing co-operative tenants may now be able to apply directly to any local authority in the country for a transfer to their stock