Tenancy transfers

You can ask your council or housing association to move you to another home.

This is called a tenancy transfer.

You might get a transfer to a home with the same landlord or a different social landlord.

A tenancy exchange or mutual exchange is different. You swap homes with another council or housing association tenant.

Who can ask for a transfer

Most council and housing association tenants can ask for a transfer.

Getting a tenancy transfer depends on why you want to move.

For example, you might want to move because:

• your home is too big or too small for you

• you need a ground floor flat with no stairs

• you want to live closer to a family member for care or support

If you need to move urgently

Your council or housing association could move you quickly if it is very urgent.

For example, if you are:

• experiencing domestic abuse

• facing violence, harassment or aggression where you live

• dealing with serious antisocial behaviour or crime in your home

Management transfers

Your council or housing association might want you to move if they are planning major works or demolition.

This is called a management transfer. It usually means you get extra priority on the housing waiting list.

Ask for an urgent transfer

Copy our letter template into an email to your landlord.

You can also send the template as an email attachment or by post.

• Word template: Ask for an urgent tenancy transfer (docx 24kb) 

• OpenDocument template: Ask for an urgent tenancy transfer (odt 7kb)

Transfers because of domestic abuse

You can sometimes keep your tenancy rights if a council gives you a new tenancy.

A council must give you a secure lifetime tenancy if you had a:

• secure lifetime tenancy - but not a flexible or fixed term tenancy

• assured housing association tenancy - but not an assured shorthold tenancy

Housing associations do not have to give you a fully assured tenancy but they can.

You can also ask the council for homeless help if you are experiencing domestic abuse.

Other priorities for a transfer

You may get some priority for a transfer if your home is:

• overcrowded

• too big because your children or other family members have left home

• not suited to your needs, for example, because you are older, disabled or have a health problem

Your housing association or council should have a policy on tenancy transfers.

Transfers to a different council area

You can ask your landlord to talk to councils and housing associations in other areas.

How to ask for a transfer

Contact your council's housing office or your housing association. You usually fill in a form or sign up online.

How long a transfer takes

You usually go on a waiting list for a transfer unless you have a very urgent need.

Tenancy transfers can take a long time.

You often have to wait longer for:

• larger homes

• sheltered housing

• an adapted home if you are disabled

Ask your council how long it could take.

Offers and bids for a new home

Many councils have a choice based letting scheme.

This means you bid for council and housing association properties that your council advertises.

Sometimes, councils or housing associations make direct offers of a home.

You might lose priority for a transfer if you turn a suitable offer down.

Transfer incentive schemes

Some council and housing association landlords give cash incentives to move.

This is usually to encourage you to:

• move out of an adapted or accessible property if you do not need it

• downsize to a smaller home so that you do not have to pay the bedroom tax

Ask your landlord for details.