Moving On

If you have a need to move to another rented property then you may find it useful

to contact your Estate Manager for advice. There are various ways by which a move to another property could be obtained.

How does your transfer policy work?

These include:

• Using our own transfer policy
• Being nominated by Hanover to another landlord through the Homeswapper Mobility Scheme
• Finding someone else with whom to exchange your tenancy.

If you are an existing tenant of Hanover then you have the right to ask to transfer to another property.  When this happens you will be given an application form to fill out. You may also receive a home visit. Once submitted to us your application form will have the date of its submission recorded.  Offers of properties will then be made on the basis of who has been waiting longest.  We make no distinction between our own residents’ transfer applications and applications for re-housing from the general public. All are placed together and offered properties in date order.

Exceptions to the above rule will apply when;

• The property available has been adapted for a disabled person
• The property size means a larger household should be given preference
• The person seeking re-housing has been given a priority status.

In these circumstances we will take applications out of turn in order to bring the most benefit and make best use of our properties.

Requests for a transfer can be to another area of the country or to a property on the same estate. Details of where Hanover has properties can be obtained from your Estate Manager.

What happens if I don’t qualify for the property I want or you don’t have properties in the area I want to move to?

In this situation we may still be able to offer help. Hanover is a member of an organisation called Homeswapper , (Housing, Mobility and Exchange Services), soon to be called Homeswapper . This organisation provides us with information on the types of housing other housing association and local authority landlords have throughout the United Kingdom. If there is accommodation of the type you want in another part of the country, which is provided by another landlord then we may be able to nominate you to this landlord.  We will only be able to do this however, if your reason for wanting to move is because;

• You will be able to receive support from friends and/or relatives
• You want to be near someone to whom you can offer support
• There is a medical, health or other social reason (e.g. violence or harassment) behind your request
• You wish to take up employment in another part of the country.

Are there any other ways I can move or transfer to other rented accommodation?

Yes, you can swap your home with another person who is a tenant of a housing association ot local authority landlord.

To do this mutually agreed exchange however you must;

• Have obtained our written permission for a move (the person you are exchanging with must also have obtained written permission from their landlord)
• Arrange to swap with someone who would qualify for sheltered accommodation.

Permission to exchange your tenancy cannot be unreasonably withheld but can be refused or made conditional on a number of reasons. For example we will refuse permission if by moving it would result in overcrowding. In contrast we would grant approval on condition that any rent arrears were cleared beforehand.

Be aware that by agreeing to swap homes with someone else the type of tenancy you have may change. This is because you and the person you are exchanging with will have to legally assign your tenancies to each other.

If you are interested in finding another Hanover resident with whom to exchange then you can ask your Estate Manager for advice.

Homeswapper  operate a scheme and they may be able to put you in touch with others wanting to move into your area.

For information on the Homeswapper Mobility Scheme and on mutual exchanges contact your Housing Officer at the Regional Office.

Other options open to you are to approach other housing associations or local authorities direct. They should all maintain a waiting list, (either individually or jointly) and will be able to advise you on your prospects for being re-housed with them.  Local authorities should all have a housing advice centre.

These will be able to provide you with a list of housing associations in their area. They will also be able to advise you of any nomination rights they have with these organisations.

I am finding it difficult to manage in my home – do I have to move?

The service we provide at our sheltered housing estates is aimed at helping you to remain independent for as long as possible. If we know that you are having difficulties managing then we will explore with you what options are available to help improve your situation. This could include carrying out an adaptation to your home or working to bring in more care and support services. If we felt that these were not sufficient to address the difficulties you were experiencing then we would work with other agencies, interested in your well being, to advise you about accommodation which may be more suitable in addressing your needs. In many areas Hanover and other housing associations will have developed a more supportive form of sheltered accommodation known as ExtraCare. Once again its prime function is to help you stay independent within your own home. If you want to discuss a move to more supported accommodation, such as ExtraCare, then please contact your Estate Manager.

What should I do if I have found somewhere else to live?

If you are moving to another property then you must write to us giving at least one calendar month’s notice. Written notice is necessary to bring the tenancy to an end. We cannot act to end your tenancy on a verbal message such as a telephone call.

Your Estate Manager can provide you with a Notice to Quit form to use, if you wish.

You can leave the property at any time during the notice period but you will have to pay the rent until the last day of your tenancy. The exception to this will be if having left the property we are able to re-let it prior to the end of your notice period. In this case your liability for the rent will end on the day of re-letting.

Before leaving your property you must make sure that:

• It has been left clean and in good decorative order
• You have not left any belongings behind
• You hand all keys back to the Estate Manager
• Any alterations made without our knowledge or consent are rectified.

Should any of the conditions mentioned above not be met then you may become liable for additional costs.

If I die how would my relatives bring the tenancy to an end?

The person who is handling your affairs, or the executor of your will should write to us giving notice on the tenancy.  We appreciate this will be a difficult time for your relatives and we will allow the tenancy to run until they have been able to clear the property.  A formal calendar month’s notice is not therefore necessary.  However, the longer a tenancy is allowed to run the greater will be the claim on your estate.

The relative, friend or executor handling your affairs should contact the Estate Manager for advice at this time.