Transfers

For existing residents who wish to move home within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead to one of our properties, you can apply directly to us.  There is a high demand for properties in this area so there is a waiting list for transfers, which is determined in date order of registration.

Housing Need

Figures below show  the current number of registered applicants by Priority Banding and a breakdown of housing need:

 

 

Priority Banding Reason

Priority Banding

 

Bedroom Needs

A

B

C

D

Total

1

2

3

4

5

6

Emergency Medical

9

 

 

 

9

 

0

2

4

3

1

0

Enabling Fostering/Adoption

2

 

 

 

2

0

0

0

1

0

0

Management Transfer

2

3

 

 

5

3

0

2

0

0

0

Underoccupied by 2 or more bedrooms

19

 

 

 

19

15

4

0

0

0

0

Medical

 

43

 

 

43

13

9

16

5

0

0

Underoccupied by 1 bedroom

 

38

 

 

38

20

14

4

0

0

0

Overcrowding

 

 

187

 

187

0

42

99

33

12

1

Suitably Housed

 

 

 

273

273

115

135

21

1

1

0

Total

32

84

187

273

576

 

166

207

146

42

14

1

Since we first introduced Thames Home Choice in February 2019 up to October 2023, we have let total of 256 homes.

The table below shows how this is broken down for each property size and type and gives an indication of expected waiting times for those successful transfer applicants:

 

Property Size & Type

Number of Homes Relet

Waiting Time

Shortest Waiting Time

Longest Waiting Time

Sheltered accommodation

31

8 days

28 months

1 bedroom flat or maisonette

86

7 days

7 years

1 bedroom mobile home

7

1 day

8 months

1 bedroom bungalow

16

5 days

2 years

2 bedroom mobile home

6

14 days

3 years 7 months

2 bedroom flat or maisonette

57

4 weeks

10 years

2 bedroom bungalow

7

17 months

4 years

2 bedroom house

14

5 weeks

18 years

3 bedroom flat or maisonette

4

11 weeks

3 years

3 bedroom house

42

3 weeks

9 years

4 bedroom house

2

27 months

14 years

Rehousing Options

As you can see from the above, the number of applicants needing to transfer to alternative accommodation far outstrips the number of properties available for reletting.  This unfortunately means, even if your application is awarded a high priority, you still face a long wait to be successfully rehoused.

If you, or a member of your household, have any new medical issues which are permanently affected by living in your current home, please request our guide to making a medical application, together with our medical application form.

There are other rehousing options, which include:

  • Seeking private rented accommodation. Note: Please check with the local authority in which you reside, as you may be able to secure funding for a rental deposit through their discretionary housing payment scheme.

If you have any questions or concerns about your Thames Home Choice application, please contact through the customer portal at https://www.housingsolutions.co.uk/portal-home/ and one of the Team will get back to you to discuss your circumstances in more detail.

To go onto our transfer list you must meet one of the following criteria:

  • Over-occupation

    This is when a family lives in a home which does not have enough bedrooms for their needs. If a dependent relative has moved into your home causing you to be overcrowded, proof of their residency at your home for at least 12 months is needed before you can be accepted onto the transfer list e.g the electoral register

  • Under-occupation

    If you live in a property with more bedrooms than you need, you are able to apply to move to a smaller home. 

  • Medical reasons

    We can only consider moving someone on medical grounds if it will significantly improve their physical or mental health, or would reduce hardship resulting from a physical disability.

    To apply to go onto the transfer list for medical reasons you must complete a self-assessment medical form and a transfer application form.  You must provide supporting letters from doctors, specialists or anything else that you wish to be considered in your case.

  • Social reasons

    We will consider transferring customers on social grounds where there is clear evidence which shows that an individual or family is vulnerable in their present home. We would need supporting information from Social Services, the Police or other recognised organisations. All applications to transfer for social reasons must initially go through your Housing Officer click here

To find out more you can contact us via webchat.  

We are unable to offer a transfer if:

  • You are in arrears with your rent and / or service charges
  • You have deliberately worsened your situation or given us false information
  • Your current home is in a poor condition, i.e. there is evidence of deliberate damage or neglect. All applicants on the transfer list are required to have a pre-transfer inspection of your property
  • You're in breach of their tenancy agreement in any way
  • You have been subject to any warnings or legal action taken for any ASB.
  • You have deliberately attempted to obtain housing fraudulently

When transferring properties:

When transferring between properties you have to pay rent on both properties until you have handed the keys back on the property you are leaving. Keys need to be back with us by 08:45am on a Monday morning to avoid being charged another weeks rent. If you are sending the keys back by post please note that it does not arrive at our offices until after 10am.