We may be able to help you find a new home by:

• arranging for a transfer to another of our properties;
• arranging for a transfer to another housing association property in the Mendip area;
• registering you on our mutual exchange register to help you find someone to exchange homes with;
• putting you forward to another landlord through the HOMES scheme (see below for more information);
• helping you to move to another area through the National Homeswap exchange scheme.

Transfers

We offer available homes to those in housing need. There is currently a points system in place for everyone who applies, and points are generally awarded according to an applicant's housing need, such as overcrowding. However, in some circumstances there are special reasons for being awarded extra points, such as medical problems.

If you have rent arrears or owe us money for rechargeable repairs, we would not normally consider you for a transfer or exchange.

Mutual exchanges

This is where you swap your home with someone else. You can swap with another of our tenants, a tenant of another housing association, or a local authority tenant living in another area. You can advertise that you want to exchange by using the Swapshop scheme, or by advertising in your local shop or newspaper. You must get our permission before you swap, but we cannot normally refuse without good reason.

If you have an assured tenancy with protected rights and you move to another landlord, you would lose your protected rights such as the right to buy your property.

Move UK

Move UK is the nationwide housing mobility scheme. This is where councils and housing associations work together to help move people from one area to another for employment, social or other reasons. Please contact us for more information.

The right to buy and the right to acquire

Tenants transferring from Mendip District Council still have the right to buy their home at a discount. Any new tenants joining us after 19 March 2001 may be eligible for the right to acquire. If you want to apply or find out more, please contact our legal section on 01749 334320.

Moving out and giving notice

Unless you are moving to another of our properties or exchanging homes with another tenant, you must give us four weeks' notice in writing to end your tenancy under the conditions of your agreement.

If you are moving into a nursing or residential home, you will only need to give two weeks' notice.

You can give more notice, but if you give less, we will charge you the rent to cover the notice period. We need this time to arrange for another tenant to move in.

This is a checklist of things you need to do before you move out.

• You must give four weeks' notice in writing. You should also give us your new address.
• You must allow us to inspect your property before you move out. You must carry out any repairs that are your responsibility before you leave. If you do not do this, we will charge you for the cost of the work.
• You must remove all furniture and belongings from your property, including carpets, and leave the property and gardens tidy and clean for the new tenant. If you do not do this, we will charge you for removing items and cleaning the property.
• Make sure you pay your rent up to date.
• At the end of the notice period, you must return your keys by 12 noon on the Monday. If you do not do this, we will charge you an extra week's rent and the cost of changing locks if necessary.