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What if I want to move homes?

There are two main ways that our tenants can move home. Please click on the links below to be taken to the relevant information.

Mutual Exchange  - Swap your home with another social housing tenant.
Transfer Scheme  - A point-based scheme where around a quarter of our properties are allocated to current tenants based on housing need.

A Guide to the Mutual Exchange Scheme

What is the mutual exchange scheme?

The mutual exchange scheme allows you to swap your home with another social housing tenant. People with low points in the transfer queue should actively explore the exchange possibility. It is a self-help scheme and it is up to you to advertise your property and look for someone to swap with.

How do I find someone to swap with?

You should advertise your property. You can do this by:

• Publicising your property for exchange in the Exchange Register at your local Area Office. You can do this by completing a mutual exchange form. The details of your property will be kept here for six months, or more if you renew it.
• Requesting that we advertise your property on our website. To view the current homes for exchange please click here
• Requesting that we advertise your property in our quarterly newsletter. This is a free service, though we cannot guarantee that we can advertise everyone's property
• Request a "For Swap" board for your property
• Visit the local post office/newsagent in the area that you wish to move to, and place a window advert.
• Advertise in local papers.
• Join the MoveUK scheme if you want to move out of the area - see Can I move out of the area?

You should also look out in all these places to find someone that you would like to swap with

What should I do when I find a possible exchange?

You should make arrangements to view each other's property. Please remember to make contact with the other party before calling in person.

What should I do when I have agreed to swap with someone?

If you find some-one that you are happy to swap with, you will need to get our permission to move. To do this you should fill in the "Mutual Exchange Consent" form. You will then be visited at home to confirm your details and for us to check that you have kept your property in good condition. You will be given a decision from us within 42 working days of you submitting the form. We can only refuse you a swap for one of the reasons specified in What are the grounds for refusing consent?

Could taking part in a mutual exchange affect my tenancy rights?

If you move home through a mutual exchange you take on the same tenancy terms as the tenant you exchange with. This is done through a "deed of assignment". Depending on what kind of tenancy the person you are swapping with has this may mean that you will take on different rights. For more information look at our leaflet about mutual exchanges by clicking here.

What are the grounds for refusing consent?

We, or the landlord of the person you are swapping with, may refuse consent if:

• An eviction notice has been served.
• Either of the homes are too large or small for the households who are involved in the swap.
• The home has been built or adapted for people with disabilities or is part of a group of special needs accommodation and the swap would result in the home being occupied by someone without those needs.

A Guide to Our Transfer Scheme

What is the transfer scheme?

Our transfer scheme helps tenants who want to move to another of our properties. We let around a quarter of our properties which become empty to people who are on our transfer list.

Who can apply?

Any Vale Housing Association tenant with an assured tenancy agreement can apply providing they have been living in their current home for 12 months.

How does the scheme work?

• If you want to join our transfer list, fill in one of our application forms.
• On the form you will be asked to include details about your personal circumstances, where you are living now and where you would like to live.
• When we receive your application form, we will decide how many points to award you. How many points you get depends on how high your housing need is.
• We will tell you how many points you have and whether you are high, medium or low priority.
• If a property becomes empty, we decide whether to let it to some-one on our transfer list or to some-one on the District Council's waiting list, or our own waiting list.
• If we decide to let it to some-one on our transfer list it will go to whoever has the highest number of points and would like to live in the area.

How can I get an application form?

You can get an application form from your area housing office. Alternatively you can download one by clicking here. In order to view this file you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader which is available as a free download from http://www.adobe.com

Is there anything that could stop me receiving a transfer?

You may not receive a transfer if:

• the support you need to live in your new property will not be available from care agencies
• your current home and/or garden has not been maintained to the standard required by your tenancy agreement.
• you owe us rent
• you have breached your tenancy agreement in another way

Providing all these conditions have been met you are eligible for a transfer if a suitable property becomes available.

What happens if my details change while I am on the transfer list?

• We need to keep accurate and up-to-date records. You must tell us about any change in your circumstances.
• If your circumstances change, this may alter the number of points you have.
• Each year we will send you a new form which you must complete in order to stay on the transfer list. When we get this form we will review your points again.

Can I move out of the area?

The Vale Housing Association owns properties in the Vale of White Horse and a few in South and West Oxfordshire. If you want to move to a different part of the country you can register on MoveUk, a free national scheme which allows you to swap homes with other social housing tenants throughout the county. You can join this scheme through their website www.moveuk.com or by asking at your local area office.
Your local District Council is able to nominate a small number of people to other social housing landlords through the HOMES scheme. You have to demonstrate that you are in housing need. You have to demonstrate that you are in housing need. You do not have an automatic right to join this scheme. To find out more contact your District Council or call the HOMES Customer Service team on 0845 080 1089.

For more details see our leaflet "A Guide to Our Transfer Scheme" which is available in our area offices or by clicking here.