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Mutual Exchanges & Transfers
Your tenancy
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Your Tenancy Blackpool Coastal Housing 25-27 Laycock Gate Queens Park Blackpool FY3 8AT  (01253) 477971  yourtenancy@bch.co.uk |
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Moving Home
From time to time circumstances change and this might mean you would prefer to move from your present home to one elsewhere.
How Do I Apply To Move?
Transfer Arrangements
A transfer is where an existing tenant moves to an empty home owned by Blackpool Council. If you want to transfer, you need to complete an application form to be put on the Housing Needs Register.
The Housing Needs team assess each application based on individual circumstances. The length of time that each applicant has to wait varies, and depends on the type of property required and the area in which it is located.
We now operate a Choice Based Lettings scheme called HOMESTOP. It replaces the usual way of allocating homes and lets you apply for a home of your choice. Every week our empty homes are advertised in the Gazette and in all our local housing offices. To view the HOMESTOP pages please click on this link
Application forms to go on the Transfer Waiting List are available from either your local housing office or from The Housing Applications Team, Telephone 01253 477980.
Urgent Transfers
In very exceptional circumstances, such as violence or serious harassment, we may ask for your transfer application to be given a very high priority.
Tell your housing officer immediately if you have serious problems living in your home and you think nothing else can be done to put things right. We will usually need to have some information from an independent body to support your application. This could be from the Police or Social Services for example.
Mutual Exchange or ‘Swap’ Arrangements
A mutual exchange enables tenants to move, by swapping their property with another tenant through an "assignment of tenancy" (click on the Successions and Assignments page of this site for details on Assignments). This allows a move to take place without the need to go through the Council’s housing waiting list / allocations system.
First, you should find a tenant who you wish to swap with. You can do this by placing details of your property in any of our housing offices. Anywhere in fact, as long as you can attract a tenant who may be interested in swapping with you. Our Tenancy Officers will give help and advice at every stage of the Mutual Exchange process.
You should submit a request for a mutual exchange to your local housing office, either by letter or by telephone. All interested tenants are then required to complete an application form. BCH must approve the exchange but cannot unreasonably withhold consent. We will advise the applicant of our decision within the statutory time limit of 42 days. However, we will try to complete the exchange process as soon as possible.
We may refuse consent for a mutual exchange on certain grounds, these are stated in the 1985 Housing Act: Section 92.Homes Mobility Scheme
Family Break Up
If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of your family being affected by disputes or other events that might affect the tenancy, or if either party to a joint tenancy decides to leave the property, please seek advice from your local housing office as soon as possible.
How To Contact your Local Housing Office
Click on the link for Leaflets and go to 'Contact Details'
Page last modified on 18 November 2008