Housing Advice Service

Home Choice Assessments and Lettings

The Home Choice Assessments and Lettings Team is responsible for the assessment of people requesting council housing.

The team handles initial applications for housing (the Housing Register) and transfer requests from Council tenants who want to move to another council property (Transfer Waiting List).

Nominations to other boroughs or to Housing Association properties and applications by tenants to exchange properties (Mutual Exchange) are also dealt with.

Rehousing decision appeal|

Registering for a council property|

Housing application status enquiry|

Mutual council home exchange

If you are a Council or a Housing Association tenant you normally have the right to a mutual exchange. This means you can swap your home with another tenant provided your landlord agrees.

If you find someone whose home you would like and they have seen your home and agreed they would like yours, you should ask your landlord to approve the exchange.

Since Homeswap closed down in January 2007, we no longer have a register of tenants who are looking for an exchange.

There are a number of internet-based mutual exchange registers, some of which are listed on the Directgov website.

It is very important that you do not move until you have your landlord's approval in writing and you have signed the Assignment documents.

Reasons for a mutual exchange refusal

An exchange may be refused if one of the tenants is in rent arrears or under notice to leave. An exchange may also be refused if the properties are too big or too small for the family intending to occupy, or if one of the properties is designated for elderly or disabled persons. If your request is refused, you have the right to appeal against the decision.

Seaside and Country Homes

New applications are now being processed for the Seaside and Country Homes scheme. If you are interested in registering for a Seaside and Country Homes move the lead tenant in your household must be at least 60 years of age and live in social rented housing in Greater London. The scheme offers opportunities to move to bungalows and flats throughout the south of England and Midlands.

For information or to request an application form you can contact the Seaside and Country Homes team on 08450 21 20 20 or visit the Housing Moves website.

Lawn

Lawn is a landlord referral scheme that aims to help households move from London to other parts of the UK. If you are interested in a Lawn move and wish to have more information on how to access the scheme then please contact 08450 21 20 20. There are no age restrictions although each council will operate their scheme according to their own eligibility criteria.

Current initiatives:

Fundamental review and implementation of Housing Allocations Policy - this incorporates provision for prioritising referrals for rehousing from agencies including the Children and Families division in Adult and Community Services for care leavers and foster carers
Extending choice for applicants in rehousing
Working with Housing Strategy to develop with Registered Social Landlords:
- General needs housing for large families
- Supported accommodation for teenage mothers
- Programme of street purchase of houses to adapt for disabled people
Establishing with Older Peoples Services a single waiting list and joint prioritisation scheme for all forms of elderly persons' accommodation
Improving void property turn round performance

Contact

Home Choice Assessment Team

John Smith House

Bevan Avenue

Barking

IG11 9LL

Tel: 020 8215 3002

Fax: 020 8227 5080

Email: housingadviceservice@lbbd.gov.uk|

Written enquiries:

PO Box 48

Dagenham

RM10 7DE