There are several ways tenants can move home within the Association, to other local authorities and housing associations in this area, and across the country.
If you are already a tenant of ours and wish to move home within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead to one of our properties then you can apply to us to do this.
We have an agreement with Windsor Housing which allows our tenants and theirs to apply to move between properties owned by the two Associations within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. There is a high demand for properties in this area of the country and as a result there is a waiting list for transfers, which is determined in date order of registration. For more information or an application form please call our Customer Contact Centre on 0800 876 6060.
To be able to go onto our transfer list you must be a tenant of MDHA or Windsor Housing and you must meet one of the following criteria:
This is when a family lives in a home which does not have enough bedrooms for their needs. To find out if you are over-occupying and qualify to go onto the transfer list on these grounds please call 0800 876 6060. If a dependent relative has moved into your home causing you to be overcrowded, proof of their residency at your home for at least three months is needed before you can be accepted onto the transfer list.
If you live in a property with more bedrooms than you need, you are able to apply to move to a smaller home. Our Assisted Transfer Scheme is for people who want to move from homes that are too big for their needs to smaller properties.
If you would like to move to a smaller home you may be eligible for a cash incentive of up to £10,000 to help you cover the costs of moving. If you move to a Windsor Housing Association property we would try to negotiate a similar payment. We run this scheme as there is such a high demand for larger homes. For more information on this please call 0800 876 6060.
Families with children under the age of 16 occupying a property above ground floor level are eligible to apply for a move to a ground floor property or a house.
We will only consider moving someone on medical grounds if it will significantly improve their physical or mental health, or would reduce hardship resulting from a physical disability.
To apply to go onto the transfer list for medical reasons you must complete a self-assessment medical form and a transfer application form. You may then be given medical priority points after an assessment by an independent medical advisor. Please gather any supporting letters from doctors, specialists or anything else that you wish to be considered in your case. Call 0800 876 6060 for further information.
We will consider transferring tenants on social grounds where there is clear evidence which shows that an individual or family is vulnerable in their present home. We would need supporting information from Social Services, the Police or other recognised organisation. All applications to transfer for social reasons must initially go through your Area Housing Officer. Call 0800 876 6060 for further information.
Tenants will not be offered a transfer if:
Please be aware that if you are transferring between properties then you have to pay rent on both properties until you have handed the keys back on the property you are leaving. However, we will allow transferring tenants at least 72 hours rent free to move into their new property from the time they are handed the keys. Keys need to be back with us by 10am on a Monday morning to avoid being charged another weeks rent. If you are sending the keys back by post please note that it does not arrive at our offices until after 10am.
We have a register for tenants who want to exchange homes with other tenants within the Association. Any tenant can go onto the mutual exchange register. We have a ‘Plus One’ policy which means that tenants are allowed to under-occupy a property. They can do this by exchanging to a property one bedroom more than they need. We must still give permission before the exchange goes ahead but we will not unreasonably with hold consent. Possible grounds for refusal are:
Our Mutual Exchange Register is now available on-line. Click here to go directly to the Mutual Exchange Register. For more information, or if you want to go onto our Mutual Exchange Register call our Customer Contact Centre on 0800 876 6060 or downloand a copy of our Transfers and Exchanges.
Transfers and Exchanges leaflet
Please note: We will only allow a mutual exchange to go ahead where neither property will be under or over-occupied with exception of the ‘Plus One’ Policy.
A mutual exchange can also be arranged with tenants from other housing associations or local authorities in the area. Please contact our Customer Contact Centre on 0800 876 6060.
Homeswapper - www.homeswapper.co.uk
Homeswapper is the UK’s largest database for people looking to swap social housing and local authority homes nationally. You can search through the details of many other people who wish to exchange their home. You can also register your own details so that other people searching on the website can access them and get in touch if they are interested in swapping homes with you. It is free to register your details and the service will even match your details with others who may be suitable for you to swap with. Homeswapper can be used to exchange properties locally or anywhere in the country. You can find out more information or register at www.homeswapper.co.uk. We also have forms and a register available at our offices. All swaps must be approved by us.
For more information on any of the above please contact our call our Customer Contact Centre on 0800 876 6060 or download a copy of our leaflet by clicking here.