General Rules for Housing Register

A transfer is a social housing move by existing Council or housing association tenants.

• We try to make sure we use our own and housing associations' stock effectively. We may need to arrange transfers or exchanges to provide a home that is needed urgently.
• Where there are adverse social conditions in a particular scheme, road or estate within our own or housing association stock, we may take steps to improve the balance and sustainability of the area. A sensitive letting/Local Letting Plan may be agreed with the Area Manager or Housing Association which over-rides the allocation policy in a clearly defined way for a limited period, eg under-occupation to reduce the number of children or young adults.
• When we have to choose between equally pointed applicants for a property, we will give priority to a household choosing the parish as their first choice, then to a household with the largest number of members and then to the household with the earliest date of application.
• If we do not receive a reply within five days of the date of an offer of accommodation, we will offer the accommodation to another applicant on the Housing Register.

We may take you off the housing register if you:

• do not tell us every 6 months (12 months for transfer applicants) that you want to stay on the Housing Register
• refuse three offers of accommodation without a good reason.

Unless you have asked us or you have recently been rehoused, if we take your application off the housing register, we will send you a letter telling you of our decision and the reason for it. You have a 21 day right to apply in writing for a review of the decision.

We do not allow pets in flats with shared entrances. We will only allow one dog and one cat in other flats and houses. Many housing associations do not allow pets in any of their flats.

You should tell us immediately about any changes in your circumstances such as change of address, marriage, children, as this may affect your priority for rehousing.

We will not generally consider you for rehousing if you are under 16. We will still need an adult to provide a written guarantee that you pay the rent and keep to the rules of the tenancy if you are under 18. Normally young single people under 18 will be expected to consider one of the specialist youth schemes operating in the District.

We will not normally offer accommodation if you (or anyone in your household) owe rent or any other housing charges unless there are particular circumstances that in our opinion make an exceptional case. This applies to your current tenancy or any former tenancy. Exceptions must be approved by the Rehousing or Area Manager.

If you get accommodation by making a false or misleading statement or by withholding relevant information, we may repossess your home.

Sheltered Housing

You can find further information on our Sheltered Housing scheme here.