Your Tenancy

Tenancy Services

Transfers

Moving home
This information is for existing council tenants who are looking to move to a different home.

The shortage of council homes in Islington makes it difficult to meet the needs of the thousands of people on our housing register, including homeless people who are in great need.

It also makes it difficult for people who already have council housing to make a move. To help, we have set up a number of schemes, which may help you move, they are:

Transfers
All Islington tenants are eligible for assessment to join the transfer register.

However, tenants who have rent arrears or after breach of tenancy will generally not be eligible for a transfer.

Only in very exceptional circumstances can approval for a transfer with arrears be agreed. Such approval will only be given if there are very urgent grounds for rehousing and the tenant has kept to an agreement to pay off their arrears for at least six months.

Many tenants would like a transfer but we cannot help everyone, as council housing is in short supply. So priority is given to tenants who have urgent reasons for moving. These include where:

There are serious medical problems
Major repairs or improvements are planned by us and you need to move out for these – We refer to this as a "Major Works Transfer or Decant".
A tenant’s home is too large for them – This is referred to as “under occupation.”
Tenants are under threat of violence or serious harm – A transfer in this case is called a “transfer on welfare grounds.”

If you are eligible for a transfer, you will be able to bid for a new home through the Home Connections scheme, the system through which the council now allocates its properties. Your chances will be greatly increased if you do not restrict the areas, or type of property, you are prepared to accept.

Application forms are available from your local area housing office. When applying for a transfer you must make sure that the information on your application is honest. You must tell us if your circumstances change in any way, as this could affect your application.

Further information about transfers is available from the Rehousing Enquiry Service on 020 7527 4140 or 4143.

Click here to view details on: Finding a Home (Link to Islington Council website)

Click here to download: Housing Allocations Scheme (pdf 183Kb)

Mutual Exchange Scheme (Swapping or exchanging your home)
You can probably move sooner by finding another tenant who would like to swap homes with you.

You can swap your home with another council or housing association tenant either in Islington, London or anywhere in the United Kingdom.

If you want to find a mutual exchange partner, a list with details of tenants who want to swap can be viewed on the web:

Register online www.homeswapper.co.uk
Your local area housing office
The Housing Aid Centre (at 38 Devonia Road, London N1 8UY, nearest Underground station is Angel)

You can also advertise in local newspapers or shops.

If you find someone to exchange with, you must complete an application form and get permission from the council.

Click on the link to download the Mutual Exchange Application Form (pdf file 75.1Kb)

We must make sure that your home is suitable for the household you are exchanging with. We will reply to your application within 42 days. We can refuse permission if:

The exchange would make a household overcrowded or your home would be too big
If you owe rent or have broken your tenancy agreement in any other way.

Please remember it is illegal to offer or accept money as an incentive to mutually exchange.

Further information on Mutual Exchanges can be obtained from the Rehousing Team on 020 7527 4140 or 4143.

Sheltered Housing Schemes
Sheltered housing is particularly designed for older people (over 60) who want to live independently but, at the same time, want the added security of a sheltered scheme coordinator and an alarm system.

For more help and advice or to apply, please contact Circle Anglia who now provide this service for Islington. You can telephone Circle Anglia for information about these schemes on 020 8826 1760 or email ishpproject@circleanglia.org

Click on the link to download the Sheltered Housing Referral Form
(pdf file 729Kb)

Under Occupation Scheme (Moving to a smaller home)
This scheme helps us to let larger homes to families who need them by encouraging tenants who no longer need so much space to move to smaller homes.

To qualify you must be prepared to move from a property with two or more bedrooms into smaller accommodation, which suits your needs. Any council tenant who is living in a home that is too big for them and wants to move somewhere smaller can apply to join the scheme.

You can get £500 for each bedroom you give up plus a contribution to removal expenses.

For further information, contact the Rehousing Team on 020 7527 4140 or 4143.

Seaside and Country Homes
This is a scheme for current council and housing association tenants aged 60 years and over and enables them to move to a non-sheltered flat or bungalow outside London. More information and an application form can be found on the Islington Council website.

Moving to another area
If you would like to move to another council area you can apply directly to join the housing waiting list in the area of your choice. Contact details for all councils can be found on the DirectGov website.

Transfer Application Form (pdf file 127Kb)

Transfer Team - Change in Circumstances Online Form