Residents Handbook Moving On - Hanover

If you have a need to move
to another rented property
then you may find it useful
to contact your Estate
Manager for advice. There are
various ways by which a move
to another property could
be obtained.
These include:
Using our own transfer policy
Being nominated by Hanover to another landlord through
the HOMES Mobility Scheme
MOVING ON
Finding someone else with whom to exchange
your tenancy.
How does
your transfer
policy work?
If you are an existing tenant of Hanover then you have the
right to ask to transfer to another property.
When this happens you will be given an application form to fill
out. You may also receive a home visit. Once submitted to us
your application form will have the date of its submission
recorded. Offers of properties will then be made on the basis of
who has been waiting longest. We make no distinction between
our own residents’ transfer applications and applications for
re-housing from the general public. All are placed together and
offered properties in date order.
Exceptions to the above rule will apply when;
The property available has been adapted for a disabled person
The property size means a larger household should be given
preference
The person seeking re-housing has been given a priority status.
In these circumstances we will take applications out of turn
in order to bring the most benefit and make best use of
our properties.
Issue date: June 2006 Section 15
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MOVING ON
What happens if
I don’t qualify
for the property
I want or you
don’t have
properties in
the area I want
to move to?
Requests for a transfer can be to another area of the country or
to a property on the same estate. Details of where Hanover has
properties can be obtained from your Estate Manager or from
the Hanover website @ www.hanover.org.uk. A copy of our
transfer policy is available from your Estate Manager.
In this situation we may still be able to offer help. Hanover is a
member of an organisation called HOMES, (Housing, Mobility
and Exchange Services), soon to be called Move UK.
This organisation provides us with information on the types of
housing other housing association and local authority landlords
have throughout the United Kingdom. If there is
accommodation of the type you want in another part of the
country, which is provided by another landlord then we may be
able to nominate you to this landlord. We will only be able to
do this however, if your reason for wanting to move is because;
You will be able to receive support from friends and/
or relatives
You want to be near someone to whom you can offer support
There is a medical, health or other social reason
(e.g. violence or harassment) behind your request
You wish to take up employment in another part of
the country.
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Are there any
other ways I can
move or transfer
to other rented
accommodation?
Yes, you can swap your home with another person who is
a tenant of a housing association or local authority landlord.
To do this mutually agreed exchange however you must;
Have obtained our written permission for a move (the
person you are exchanging with must also have obtained
written permission from their landlord)
Arrange to swap with someone who would qualify for
sheltered accommodation.
Permission to exchange your tenancy cannot be unreasonably
withheld but can be refused or made conditional on a number
of reasons. For example we will refuse permission if by moving it
would result in overcrowding. In contrast we would grant approval
on condition that any rent arrears were cleared beforehand.
Issue date: June 2006 Section 15

Be aware that by agreeing to swap homes with someone else
the type of tenancy you have may change. This is because you
and the person you are exchanging with will have to legally
assign your tenancies to each other.
If you are interested in finding another Hanover resident with
whom to exchange then we can advertise requests in “Hanover
Residents News”. Ask your Estate Manager for advice.
HOMES operate a national HOMESWAP scheme and they may
be able to put you in touch with others wanting to move into
your area.
For information on the HOMES Mobility Scheme and on mutual
exchanges contact your Housing Officer at the Regional Office.
Other options open to you are to approach other housing
associations or local authorities direct. They should all maintain
a waiting list, (either individually or jointly) and will be able to
advise you on your prospects for being re-housed with them.
Local authorities should all have a housing advice centre.
These will be able to provide you with a list of housing
associations in their area. They will also be able to advise you
of any nomination rights they have with these organisations.
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I am finding it
difficult to
manage in my
home – do I
have to move?
The service we provide at our sheltered housing estates is
aimed at helping you to remain independent for as long as
possible. If we know that you are having difficulties managing
then we will explore with you what options are available to
help improve your situation. This could include carrying out an
adaptation to your home or working to bring in more care and
support services. If we felt that these were not sufficient to
address the difficulties you were experiencing then we would
work with other agencies, interested in your well being, to
advise you about accommodation which may be more suitable
in addressing your needs. In many areas Hanover and other
housing associations will have developed a more supportive
form of sheltered accommodation known as ExtraCare. Once
again its prime function is to help you stay independent within
your own home. If you want to discuss a move to more
supported accommodation, such as ExtraCare, then please
contact your Estate Manager. 93
Issue date: June 2006 Section 15

MOVING ON
What should I do
if I have found
somewhere else
to live?
If you are moving to another property then you must write to
us giving at least one calendar month’s notice. Written notice is
necessary to bring the tenancy to an end. We cannot act to
end your tenancy on a verbal message such as a telephone call.
Your Estate Manager can provide you with a Notice to Quit
form to use, if you wish.
You can leave the property at any time during the notice
period but you will have to pay the rent until the last day of
your tenancy. The exception to this will be if having left the
property we are able to re-let it prior to the end of your notice
period. In this case your liability for the rent will end on the
day of re-letting.
Before leaving your property you must make sure that:
It has been left clean and in good decorative order
You have not left any belongings behind
You hand all keys back to the Estate Manager
Any alterations made without our knowledge or consent
are rectified.
Should any of the conditions mentioned above not be met
then you may become liable for additional costs.
Advice on who to tell about your move is contained on page 9.
If I die how
would my
relatives bring
the tenancy to
an end?
The person who is handling your affairs, or the executor of
your will should write to us giving notice on the tenancy. We
appreciate this will be a difficult time for your relatives and we
will allow the tenancy to run until they have been able to clear
the property. A formal calendar month’s notice is not therefore
necessary. However, the longer a tenancy is allowed to run the
greater will be the claim on your estate.
The relative, friend or executor handling your affairs should
contact the Estate Manager for advice at this time.
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Issue date: June 2006 Section 15