Transfers
This content applies to England only.
Housing laws vary between England and Scotland. Get advice relating to Scotland
If you rent your home from the council or a housing association, you can apply for a transfer to a new home within your landlord’s area.
What are my chances of getting a transfer?
Your chances of getting a new home will depend on:
- the reasons why you want to move – this is particularly important if you are applying for a transfer (see below) as it will decide how much priority you get on the waiting list
- what sort of property you are asking for (if you need a larger property, or one that has been adapted for support needs, you may have to wait longer)
- what sort of property you currently live in (most areas have a shortage of larger properties, so if you are downsizing then you may be able to move more quickly).
What if I need to move immediately?
If you need to move immediately, for example because of domestic violence, or because conditions are so bad in your current home that it is no longer reasonable for you to stay there, you may be legally classed as homeless.
Transfers and exchanges take time. If you need to move urgently, your best option may be to make a homelessness application rather than apply for a transfer. Local councils have a duty to rehouse people immediately in certain circumstances.
Do not move out of your current home without getting advice first. If you do so, the council may decide that you are intentionally homeless, and therefore only entitled to short-term help.
Use our online assessment tool to work out whether the council has to house you. If they refuse to help you, or you need help for any other reason, call Shelter’s helpline on 0808 800 4444.
Who can apply?
You can apply for a transfer if you have a secure or assured tenancy with the local council or a housing association. You will probably not be able to apply if:
- you have a demoted tenancy, an introductory tenancy, a starter tenancy or an assured shorthold tenancy
- you live in supported housing or a care home
- the council decides that you, or any member of your household, are guilty of serious unacceptable behaviour.
You will also need to show that your circumstances have changed since you moved in, resulting in a need for a different home. This could be because:
- you family has grown and your current home and is now overcrowded
- your home is now too big for you, for example because your children have left home
- you are ill or have a disability and your current home isn't suited to your needs.
How do I apply?
You will need to contact your council's housing department or your housing association. You will be asked to fill in a form or register online and your name will be added to the waiting list.
Your council's website may explain their allocation policy, or you can ask the council's housing department. If your housing association has a website, this may explain their allocation policy (you may be able to find it through the Housing Corporation Register) or ask your housing officer.
Will I have to pay?
No, there is no charge for applying for a transfer.
How long will it take to get a new home?
Depending on why you need to move, you may have to wait a long time before you are offered a new home. There is no guarantee that you will be able to get what you want. Transfers often take a very long time. There is a shortage of property in most areas, especially if you need a larger property. However, thousands of people get a transfer every year, so don't give up too easily.
Some housing associations have internal transfer waiting lists, but applications are usually processed through the council’s central waiting list for housing (the housing register) so the usual rules on who is eligible and who gets priority apply. It doesn’t work on a 'first come, first served' basis. Many councils have a points system based on housing need. The more points you have, the higher up the waiting list you'll be.
Existing tenants don't automatically get priority on the waiting list, so you should explain any special circumstances that might mean that you get extra points. A local advice centre may be able to help you to complete forms to make your application as strong as possible. They may also be able to help if you want to challenge a decision that the council has made about your application.
How many offers will I get?
If your application is accepted, the council or housing association may only make you one offer of a new home. If you turn an offer down, they may ask you to explain your reasons, and if they don't think your reasons are good enough, they may impose a 'penalty'. For example, they may refuse to make you any more housing offers for six months, or remove your priority status.
Be sure to ask the council or housing association what their policy is before you turn down any offers. Discuss your options with an adviser if you are not sure what to do – use our directory to find one.
Can I get a transfer to a different area?
If you have a special need to move to another area (eg to be near a special school or other service), you can apply to the council in your current area for what's called a ‘nomination’. This is different from a transfer or a mutual exchange. The council you apply to will ask the council for the area where you want to live to house you if they have a suitable property. In most areas, you will then be given a place on the central waiting list of the council that covers the area you want to move to.
Bear in mind that some councils will only accept nominations for certain types and sizes of property.
