transfers

1. The Association recognises that tenants’ needs change over time and it aims to respond to existing tenants’ circumstances by providing housing more suitable to their needs. Tenants can apply for a transfer after a minimum of two years in their current property.

2. Tenants will not normally be considered for an offer unless they have a clear rent account unless there are exceptional circumstances and in this case the Chief Executive’s approval must be given.

• Exceptional circumstances which would be treated as urgent may include racial or other harassment or violence.

3. The Association will consider transfers for the following reasons:

• Tenants are victims of racial or other harassment, or domestic violence.
• Tenants in properties with severe structural problems or where re-improvements are necessary, requiring a property to be vacated for the works to be carried out.
• Statutory overcrowding (e.g. 2 children over 10 years of different sexes sharing a bedroom).
• Urgent medical grounds: where the tenant can provide evidence to support this.
• Disability.
• Under occupation.
• Social reasons e.g. family support, proximity to work.
• The tenant’s financial circumstances dictate that she needs less expensive accommodation.

4. Housing for Women will aim to offer the applicant the appropriate type of accommodation wherever possible.

• It is important that housing options and needs are explained to tenants enquiring about a transfer.
• Housing officers must discuss the type and availability of preferred units to transfer applicants, giving an indication as to whether the request can be met then.

5. Where possible Housing for Women will take into account preferred area, particularly for place of work, schools and place of worship etc.

Category 1

Transfer priority groups are as follows:

• Tenants in property with a dangerous structure notice.
• Tenants in property all of which has been deemed uninhabitable by environmental officers.
• Tenants in property requiring urgent major works or rehabilitation.
• Tenants suffering racial or other harassment.
• Tenants at serious risk of violence.
• Tenants with urgent medical reasons supported by doctor.
• Tenants in properties required to be decanted for sale or other urgent decants as required by Housing for women.

Category 2

• Tenants with children at risk.
• High priority medical cases (with doctor’s evidence).
• Severe overcrowding.

Category 3

• Overcrowding.
• Under occupation.
• Non-urgent medical cases.
• Tenants in properties where the Environmental Health Inspectorate has deemed one or more rooms uninhabitable.

Category 4

• Serious, irresolvable tenants’ disputes.
• Social reasons eg proximity to work, school.

Category 5

• Applicants who do not fall into the above groups but who may be suitable for a vacancy which group 1-4 will not accept eg tenants wishing to move from a bedsit to a flat; tenants finding it difficult to afford the rent in their current accommodation.

PROCEDURE

Tenants wishing to be considered for a transfer should request a transfer form.

After completing this form and returning it to their housing officer, a visit to the tenant will be arranged to discuss the detailed requirements and to assess the need for a transfer. A visit will be arranged within 15 working days.

2.1 It is important that housing options and needs are explained to tenants enquiring about a transfer.

2.2 Housing officers must discuss the type and availability of preferred units to transfer applicants, giving an indication as to whether the request can be met then.

Report of the visit will be discussed with the Director of Housing and a decision regarding the transfer will be agreed between housing officers and Director of Housing.

Tenants are then informed in writing of the Association's decision with reasons for any application which was unsuccessful, within 14 days of a decision being made.

Tenants who are dissatisfied with the decision may use the complaints procedure to appeal against the decision made.

Approved transfers will be added to the transfer list under the relevant priority group (see Appendix 1) and considered for a suitable property.

Two reasonable offers will be made to tenants on the transfer list.

Where two applications attract the same priority the earliest registered application will take priority.

Where two reasonable offers have been refused a tenant will be taken off the transfer list and can reapply once 1 year has elapsed since the last offer was turned down, unless a change in her circumstances mean her transfer requirements have changed.

The transfer list will be reviewed before the relet of each new property.

The transfer list will also be reviewed annually to ensure that tenants circumstances have not altered and to ensure their rehousing requirements are still the same.