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Changing your home
About changing your home
Most people need to change their home at some point in their lives: they may need somewhere larger because of a growing family, or they may need somewhere smaller and easier to look after as their family grows up and moves away.
Similarly, a change of job may force a move to another part of the country, or advancing years mean that a watchful eye and a helping hand becomes necessary.
As a tenant of a home owned or managed by Riversmead Housing Association, we shall try our very best to ensure that your home is the right one for you. There are a number of ways you can change your home. These are:
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Transfer list
We maintain a transfer list of Riversmead and Stadium tenants who want to move within Riversmead's area. Tenants who want to move to another home elsewhere in East Herts will need to contact East Herts Council's housing options team on 01279 655261 or by e-mail.
All Riversmead and Stadium tenants living in the East Herts area are eligible for registration on our Transfer List. Tenants' applications become 'active' when they have been a tenant for a minimum of six months and have a clear rent account for the same period of time. Please note that criteria may vary in other areas and you should contact your local housing office for further information (please see contact details below).
Your chances of being transferred, and the length of time you may have
to wait will depend on :
 your
personal circumstances.
the
urgency of your needs.
the
availability of suitable accommodation in the area you want to move to.
If you are a Riversmead or Stadium Housing Association tenant and wish to transfer within Riversmead's area, please request a transfer form from our Housing Needs Section. Click here for contact details. Once details of your application are registered, you can discuss your application in more detail with one of our Housing Needs Officers, if you wish.
If you are a tenant in a Riversmead managed property living outside the
East Herts area and would like to be considered for a transfer, the following
applies:
Biggleswade
Contact Aragon Housing Association, 2 Shannon Court, High Street, Sandy, Beds, SG19 1AG. Tel: 01767 685800
Milton
Keynes
Contact Milton Keynes Council on 01908 691691 (main switchboard) to find
out which area office you need. The Council’s address is Milton Keynes
Council, Civic Offices, 1 Saxon Gate East, Central Milton Keynes, Bucks,
MK9 3HJ.
South
Oxhey
Contact Three Rivers District Council, Three Rivers House, Northway, Rickmansworth,
Herts, WD3 1RL. Tel: 01923 776611
Leavesden
Depending on which Council you were nominated by contact either:
Watford Borough Council, Town Hall, Watford, Herts, WD17 3EX. Tel 01923 226400 or
Three Rivers District Council, Three Rivers House, Northway, Rickmansworth, Herts, WD3 1RL. Tel: 01923 776611
Welwyn
Garden City
Contact Welwyn Hatfield Council, 51 Bridge Road East, Welwyn Garden City,
Herts AL7 1JR. Tel: 01707 357000
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Points System for Riversmead's transfer list
For details of the points system in other areas, please contact your local housing office.
Lack of Bedrooms
For each bedroom an application lacks, twenty points are awarded; where a child over 6 years has to share with a person of the opposite sex over 10 years, on additional twenty points are awarded.
The following table shows examples of household types and the minimum number of bedrooms for each.
 |
| Single Person of any age |
 |
Bedsit |
|
| Couple of any age |
|
1 bedroom |
|
| Single parent or couple and 1 child |
|
2 bedrooms |
|
| Single parent or couple and 2 children of the same sex |
|
2 bedrooms |
|
| Single parent or couple and 2 children where a child over 6 is having to share a bedroom with a person of the opposite sex aged 10 or over |
|
3 bedrooms |
|
| Single parent or couple and 3 children of the same sex all under 16 |
|
3 bedrooms |
|
| Single parent or couple and 3 children where a child over 6 is having to share a bedroom with a person of the opposite sex aged 10 or over |
|
3 bedrooms |
|
Children in Flats
Regardless of the size of the home, two points are awarded for each child under 16 years living in a flat or maisonette, plus one point for each year that the child has been living in the property, up to a maximum combined total of 30 points.
For example, if two children aged under 16 years have been living in a maisonette for five years, they would qualify for:
2 (number of children) x 2 points = 4
plus
2 (number of children) x 5 (years) = 10
TOTAL = 14
Medical Priority
If a member of the household is suffering from a medical condition affected by their housing conditions, the Association’s Medical Advisor may award points on a sliding scale from 0 - 50. To enable a decision to be made, a self assessment form is available for tenants to complete for the medical advisor. Proof of medication is required, so please include copies of relevant prescriptions with your assessment form.
Under Occupation
Where a tenant (or their partner) is of pensionable age, twenty points are awarded for each bedroom not being used.
Social Need
There may be other exceptional factors not covered by the above categories for which additional points can be awarded. These are on a sliding scale between 10 and 50 and depend on assessment of housing need and seriousness of the situation.
Time on List
Two points are awarded for each year the applicant has been registered, up to a maximum of ten points.
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Exchanges
A mutual exchange is sometimes the easiest way to change your home. It enables a tenant to move home regardless of any priority your landlord may consider you to have. It is often the best way of moving to another area. However, it does depend on finding someone who is willing to “swap”' homes, and the agreement of both landlords.
An exchange may be found through:
personal knowledge
private advertising in the area of your choice
a local register
HomeSwapper
Local registers listing tenants who wish to move are kept at our offices in Hertford and are available for viewing during office hours. Most other housing organisations keep similar registers.
HomeSwapper may be able to help you to find an exchange. It is an active database of tenants wishing to exchange, which matches people to suitable properties. Anyone housed in permanent, self-contained accommodation and renting from a council, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive or a housing association who wants to move within the UK can join. For more information and to register visit the website at www.homeswapper.co.uk.
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Download exchange forms @ my home online
Click here to go to my home online, where you can download a form for our mutual exchange registers and a form to apply for an exchange once you´ve found one. Go to the services section.
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Moving to another area
Legislation now states that anyone can apply to live in any area, regardless of local connection and whether already a tenant elsewhere. If you want to apply for housing in another area, please contact the local housing provider to register.
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HomeBuy
The Government's HomeBuy scheme helps people to get a foot on the property ladder. It consists of New Build Homebuy (shared ownership), Open Market HomeBuy and Social HomeBuy. New Build HomeBuy and Open Market HomeBuy are administered by HomeBuy agents and you will need to register with your agent to be considered. Click here to go to the Housing Corporation's website for more information on the scheme and to find out who the agent is for your area.
Social HomeBuy is where tenants are helped to buy a share of their existing home, provided their landlord is taking part in the scheme. Riversmead and Stadium do not currently participate. You can find information on the scheme using the link above.
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Special transfers and moves
In exceptional circumstances, some tenants need to move for reasons other than those just described. Sometimes problems arise which justify a transfer even though the tenant is not on the transfer list. They are usually for reasons of personal safety.
However, tenants may also be required to move (either temporarily or permanently) because of major redevelopment or improvement works affecting their homes. In these cases, Riversmead will ensure alternative housing is provided after consulting with you.
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The key points
DO complete any application forms clearly and accurately
DO make as wide a choice of type of property and location as possible
DO think very carefully before refusing an offer of accommodation - it may be some time before anything else can be offered
DO inform us of any changes in your circumstances
DO remember that we are here to help. Please contact us if we can give you advice about your application, or about finding a home
DON'T worry that you have been forgotten. Riversmead wants to help everyone on the list, but not everyone can be assisted. The higher the priority of your case, the more quickly you are likely to be helped.
Please contact us about any of the issues raised on this page either by using the Contact Us form, or at:
Riversmead Housing Association
Riversmead House
36 Ware Road
Hertford
Herts
SG13 7HH
e-mail: riversmead@riversmead.org.uk
Telephone: 01992 514514
Fax: 01992 514500
Minicom: 01992 537818
We are open from 9.00 am – 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday
Personal callers are most welcome, but it is helpful to make an appointment first.
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