Transfering and Exchanging homes.

HOW CAN I MOVE HOME?

If you are a Weaver Vale Housing Trust tenant and want to move to another trust owned property you may:
a) Apply for a transfer, or
b) Seek to swap your home with another tenant of the Trust or a tenant of another Housing Association or Local Authority. This is referred to as a mutual exchange. You must seek written approval before proceeding with a swap.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A TRANSFER

If your current home no longer suits your requirements, you may wish to apply to transfer. 

If you wish to apply to move, please obtain a Housing Application Form from one of our offices, by requesting over the phone or via the contact us page of this site. Complete and return it to the Rehousing team.

Equal opportunities
All applications will be considered equally in accordance with the The Trust Homechoice Common Housing Allocation Policy. 

Appeals
Anyone who is unhappy about a decision in respect of a housing application may request a review of their application. 

HOW TO APPLY FOR A SWAP (MUTUAL EXCHANGE)

If you hold an Assured Tenancy, you have a right to swap (mutually exchange) with another tenant of the Trust or with a tenant of another Housing Association or Local Authority.

HomeSwapper is a web based service to help you swap your home with another tenant; a “mutual exchange”. Weaver Vale Housing Trust has joined the HomeSwapper scheme to provide the service free to our tenants.

The HomeSwapper service holds up to date details of people requesting a mutual exchange locally as well as details of those tenants wanting to move from outside the area.

If you register, HomeSwapper will search daily for potential new swaps that meet your requirements. HomeSwapper will send alerts of potential new swaps by email weekly (if you have email) or by text messages fortnightly (if you have a mobile phone).

To join the scheme, register at http://www.homeswapper.co.uk/ stating that your landlord is Weaver Vale Housing Trust.

What do I do if I find a suitable swap?
If you find a suitable tenant to swap with, you must contact the Rehousing Team to obtain a mutual exchange application form. Both parties will need to complete an application form. A home visit will be undertaken to verify your circumstances and an inspector from Property Services will visit to assess the repair conditions of both properties and gas and electrical safety checks will be conducted.

Why might my application to swap be refused?
There are certain reasons why an exchange may not proceed. The grounds for refusal are set out in legislation and are contained within the Housing Act 1985, Schedule 3. Examples of grounds for refusal include:
Ground 1
One or both tenants has a County Court Judgement outstanding against them.

Ground 2
One or both tenants has a Notice of Seeking Possession still in force.

Ground 3
The exchange would result in one or more tenants substantially under occupying the property.

Ground 4
The new tenant would cause overcrowding in the property.

Ground 5
The dwelling is designed / adapted for someone with a disability and if the exchange occurred there would be no disabled person living there.

What else do I need to know?
You will accept your new home in its present state and you will become responsible for any outstanding rechargeable repairs. Any work which is not to a satisfactory standard will have to be reinstated and all fixtures and fittings must be left in place.

You must not make any arrangements to move until you obtain written permission from the Trust.