What are my options if I wish to move?

If you wish to move home, there are a range of options open to you.

Exchanging properties

This is called a mutual exchange. You could swap your home with another Council or a housing association tenant. It is not a move into an empty property. All council tenants and many housing association tenants have a right to exchange, provided approval is given by the council/housing association. Either landlord can refuse a mutual exchange, if this happens you will need to look for another mutual exchange partner.

For more information, please visit the Mutual Exchanges section of the website.

Sheltered accomodation

All our sheltered vacancies are let through Home Connections. If you are 60 years and over you can apply for the sheltered schemes in the borough.

Further details are also contained in the sheltered accomodation section of this website and on the Home Connections website.

For more information, you can also download our Sheltered Housing Services Brochure.

Housing Association vacancies

Housing association and other social housing providers often work with the Council to provide housing for people who are on the housing register. You should indicate you on your application form if you are interested in being considered for housing associations properties. You need to bear in mind that the majority of the new developments will not be in Kensington and Chelsea and will be built outside of the borough particularly in the Thames gateway area and West London. If you owe us money, we may not agree to a nomination. You will be contacted by the Council and the housing association if your application is being considered for a nomination. The Council also advertise out of borough vacancies on the Home Connections website.

If you choose to accept a nomination, you must ensure you give the TMO 4 weeks written notice. Remember housing associations offer assured tenancies. Please contact the Allocations team for further advice.

Single Person Hostels

If your housing need is caused by your family outgrowing your present property and your children are over 16 it might be beneficial for them to be assessed by the Young Person's Advisor (for 16 and 17 year olds) or the Single Person's Advisor for a referral to a hostel. All our hostels are in borough and offer varying degrees of support depending on the client's need.

For further information Housing Options Team on 020 7361 3008

Email housing@rbkc.gov.uk

Private sector accomodation

The LetStart scheme looks to assist tenants in housing need to meet that need in the private sector. You will be able to get help in covering the deposit required and the first month's rent in order to secure the tenancy. You can also be supported in your tenancy to make sure it is a long term solution to your housing need.

Moving out of the borough

The HomeStart grant scheme looks to assist those tenants who may wish to move to another part of the UK for employment or family reasons. Home Start has been set up by the Council to help people on the Council's Housing Register who are interested in moving to another council or housing association in other areas of the UK. There are some areas, such as the south of England that do not have much social housing and therefore may not accept HomeStart nominations.

Since it started in 2002, the scheme has helped both single people and families move to areas including Leeds, Nottingham, Derby, Northampton, Worksop, Doncaster, South Wales, Dewsbury, South Derbyshire and Coventry.

If I was to consider these schemes would I still be offered a secure tenancy?

It is important to be aware that in accepting assistance through the LetStart or the HomeStart Grant schemes that you would be giving up a secure tenancy with the TMO for an assured shorthold tenancy in the private sector, which does offer less protection from eviction if your landlord wishes to serve notice.

However many people have very successful long tenancies in the private sector and it is an excellent option for those looking to move quickly and to a specific area where we cannot necessarily offer permanent re-housing.

For further details of opportunities to be rehoused outside London, please contact the Council's Home Start Team on 0207 361 3220

Email: housing@rbkc.gov.uk

Further Information

For more information, please contact the Allocations Team on 0800 137 111, or email Allocations@kctmo.org.uk.

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