Transfer Incentive Scheme and Transfer Support Scheme policy

Brighton & Hove City Council has a limited supply of family sized accommodation and properties adapted to be wheelchair accessible. The council has therefore adopted an under-occupation incentive scheme in order to free up these properties.

Under the Transfer Incentive & Transfer Support Schemes, Council & Housing Association tenants who give up properties which are larger than they need and move into a property of the correct size for their household’s needs (according to our Allocations Policy) may be eligible for assistance from the Council.  

The Transfer Incentive Scheme (TIS) is for Brighton and Hove council tenants who are living in a family size accommodation and have 1 or more bedrooms they no longer need and are interested in downsizing or ending their tenancy. Tenants have the option of transferring to another social housing property or moving to the private sector.

The scheme is also available for tenants who have a wheelchair-adapted property they no longer require and who could move to a new home without adaptations (even with the same number of bedrooms), freeing up an accessible property for someone who needs it.
Under the Transfer Incentive Scheme, council tenants who are giving up these types of accommodation are eligible for cash incentives and are given the highest priority for re-housing in the allocations scheme.

The Transfer Support Scheme (TSS) is for Housing association tenants living in Brighton and Hove who are either under-occupying or no longer need a wheelchair-adapted property. The can apply to move through Homemove on the Transfer Support Scheme and if eligible are also given the highest priority for re-housing. Brighton and Hove Council will no pay an incentive payment, tenant will need to ask their landlord if they would offer any payment for downsize.

No tenant will be forced to move from their home due to under occupation alone.

The Transfer Incentive Scheme (TIS) is available to Council tenants who meet the following criteria:

• hold a Secure Tenancy Agreement (Introductory Tenancies are not eligible)
• occupy a general needs family property* or occupy wheelchair accessible accommodation**
• agree to transfer to smaller social housing accommodation that meets their needs and/or a non-adapted property, and provide vacant possession of their present home.
• under occupying tenants that relinquish their Standard Tenancy completely and move to the private sector. Proof of tenancy agreement or proof of purchase will be required before any payments are released.
• those who have succeeded to a secure tenancy and was not required to downsize due to under occupation and there is a change of circumstances and the tenant needs or wants to downsize with in 12 months following the succession.
• a tenant who downsizes as part of a mutual change will qualify once their exchange has been formally approved and subject to all parties in the exchange process moving to appropriate sized accommodation with no under occupation.
• have a clear rent account or have an agreement in place to clear arrears and Housing Income Management agrees that a move can take place

Housing income management will be consulted to confirm they are in agreement for them to move specially when tenants are in rent arrears, but are not subject to a possession order.

* through this scheme general needs family properties are classified as houses, bungalows or flats with two bedrooms or more

** in this instance a wheelchair accessible property would be classified as accommodation fully adapted for a wheelchair user or a property that has level or ramped access with wheelchair access to all essential

The Transfer Support Scheme (TSS) is available to Housing Association tenants who:

• occupy a general needs family property* or occupy wheelchair accessible accommodation**
• agree to transfer to smaller social housing accommodation that meets their needs and/or a non-adapted property, and provide vacant possession of their present home.
• have a clear rent account or have an agreement in place to clear arrears and their landlord agrees that a move can take place

Tenants who meet the following criteria will not be eligible for the TIS or TSS.

• Who are subject to a possession order
• Who have been served with a Notice of Seeking Possession for anti-social behaviour
• Who have been served with a Demotion Notice
• The tenant holds an Introductory Tenancy or a Non-Secure Tenancy.
• The tenant has failed to provide the required documentation for their Housing Register Application.
• A person who is not the tenant of the property being released.
• The tenant is a successor, (following the previous tenant’s death) who is under occupying the property and is a family member. This excludes partners or spouses.

A Transfer Incentive payment will not be available to tenants:

• who have previously received a Transfer Incentive Scheme payment
• who are above the income and savings cap established in the Housing Allocations policy. (band A will be given – they will not receive an incentive payment)
• under the Transfer Support Scheme at least a payment has been offered by their landlord.

A fixed incentive payment will be paid at the following rates to those accepted on the transfer Incentive scheme.

• £1,000 if you give up one bedroom
• £1,500 if you give up two bedrooms
• £2,000 if you give up three bedrooms
• £2,500 if you give up four bedrooms
• £1,000 if you give up a wheelchair-adapted property (even if you keep the same number of bedrooms)

The above payments will be subject to budget limits. If there are more requests for transfer incentive grants than there is funding available, the council will:

• reduce the amount of payments made through the scheme
• give priority to those moving from accommodation that is more urgently needed
• assist with a transfer in the new financial year

Brighton and Hove City Council reserves the right to reduce the payments above if there are any of the following housing related debts: 

• current rent arrears

• the cost of any works that the Council must undertake to the vacated premises as a result of damage or neglect on the part of the tenant (Rechargeable repairs) 

• any outstanding court costs 

• Housing Benefit overpayments 

• former debt 

Payments will be authorised once the tenant has moved, provided their new tenancy agreement or proof of purchase and following an inspection of the vacated property. Payments will be made by BACs transfer only.

Applicants must be registered on the scheme 1 month before a move takes place for a payment to be authorised.

The annual budget for the existing scheme is currently £150,000. The scheme will be kept under review and the need for any additional funding will be dealt with as part of the annual budget setting process.

Council or Housing Association transfer applicants interested in TIS or TSS, must complete a Housing Register application and The Transfer Incentive/ transfer support application form, which is included as part of the online housing application form.

Application forms are available from our website and any council housing offices in Brighton and Hove.

The tenant must provide the required documentation for their Housing Register Application.

Once a transfer applicant has been assessed and accepted onto the TIS or TSS, the tenants will receive an Acceptance Letter on the scheme with their the housing assessment, a Band A priority by the Homemove Team with details of the size of property they are eligible for and details on how to bid. Full details of the scheme are available at homemove.org.uk

Applicants will then be able to ‘bid’ for available properties, mutual exchange or relinquish their tenancy to move into the private sector or purchasing a property.

For more information, please contact the Specialist Caseworker, Ben Reeves on 01273 29 44 96 or send an email to TransferUnderOccupying@brighton-hove.gov.uk.

Incentive payments are also available for those council tenants who wish to move into the private sector to rent privately and are giving up family or adapted accommodation, as described above.

Brighton and Hove Council tenants must complete a TIS application form and return to the Homemove team prior to a move taking place.

Proof that the applicant is moving into a sustainable tenancy will be required (e.g. tenancy agreement). Please note that applications for this scheme must be received at least one month before the tenancy ends.

Incentive payments are also available for those council tenants who wish to move into the private to purchase a property and are giving up family or adapted accommodation, as described above.

Brighton and Hove Council tenants must complete a TIS application form and return to the Homemove team prior to a move taking place. Proof that the applicant has purchased a property will be required (eg Deeds ).

Please note that applications for this scheme must be received at least one month before the tenancy ends.

Any applicant who has had a request for a Transfer Incentive Payment refused may request that the decision be reviewed. The decision will be reviewed by an officer senior to that which made the original decision.