If you need to move to another property we will do our best to
help you.
Transfer opportunities
If you find that your home no longer meets your needs, you may
qualify for a transfer. You can apply for a transfer to any area in
which we have accommodation but unfortunately we are not able to
indicate how long you will have to wait before we can offer you
another property.
We use a points-based system to assess our transfer
applications. This is designed to award the highest points to those
in the greatest housing need.
Generally, we cannot consider a transfer application from you if we
are taking legal action against you for a breach of your tenancy
agreement. Also if your rent account is more than four weeks in
arrears, we will put your application 'on hold'.
If you would like to apply for a transfer, please contact us on
020 8475 0033 and we will send you a form.
If you need help filling in the form, please contact your housing
manager.
Mutual exchanges
A mutual exchange is when two or more customers wish to swap
their homes.
Springboard customers can exchange their home with another
Springboard customer or a customer of another housing association
or local authority.
However, we can only agree to a mutual exchange if it forms part of
your tenancy conditions. If you are unsure, please contact your
Housing Manager.
If you find someone you would like to exchange homes with,
please contact us immediately. Both landlords have to give their
permission before an exchange can take place. We can refuse to
allow an exchange in certain circumstances. These include where a
Notice of Seeking Possession has been issued, where legal action is
being taken because of arrears, or because of any other breach of
your tenancy.
We hold a list of Springboard customers who are interested in
exchanging their home. If you would like a copy of the current list
or an application form to register your details, please
contact:
London - London Housing Team on 08457 023 420;
Essex/Herts - Steven Golding on 01206 878855 or Kathy
Forsyth on 01702 561509/01245 228950.
House exchange
Springboard is now part of a web-based mutual exchange scheme
called 'House Exchange'. This is
run by Circle Anglia on behalf of a growing number of Registered
Social Landlords, including local authorities, (about 50 landlords
in the scheme).
Our part of the site is administered by our staff, so customers can
register direct with House Exchange. The scheme runs in a similar
way to the former HOMESWAP Scheme, where details of tenants'
properties and exchange requirements are advertised and
automatically matched with suitable exchange partners. You can also
register on the Homeswapper website for
which there is a fee, but we are considering joing as partners in
the near future.
For further details and information on how to register, please
visit www.houseexchange.org.uk or contact the Springboard House Exchange Team on 020 8548
2188.
Low-cost home ownership options
Shared ownership is a more affordable alternative to buying a
property outright. It is designed to assist first-time buyers who
are unable to afford a mortgage or buy a property on the open
market.
The buyer purchases a share in the ownership, usually using a
mortgage, and pays rent to the housing association for the portion
of the property they have not purchased.
Housing associations provide newly built and refurbished homes for
shared ownership, as well as homes being re-sold by existing shared
owners.
For further information, please phone 020 8475 0033 and ask to
speak to a member of our Homeowner Services department.
Helping you buy a home
The Government has introduced a range of low-cost home ownership
products that help first-time buyers get a foot on the property
ladder.
These products are known as HomeBuy. There are
various ways into the HomeBuy schemes:
- New Build HomeBuy - where you share ownership
of your home with a housing association
- Open Market HomeBuy - where you part-buy a
property and get a loan from a housing association for the
rest
- Social HomeBuy - where housing association and
local authority tenants are helped to buy their current
home
Springboard is taking part in the Social HomeBuy
scheme.
If you would like more information please contact Chris
Coomber on 020 8548 5211.
For the other schemes, your local HomeBuy agent will be able to
register your interest and let you know what will be coming
available.
A list of the agents is detailed below.
For more information on any of these schemes please visit the
Housing Corporation
online.
HomeBuy agents
East London
Metropolitan Housing Trust
0845 230
8099
Hertfordshire
Aldwyck Housing
Association
01582 869 447
South East London
Tower
Homes
0845 230 8099
Surrey
Thames Valley Housing
Association
0845 600 6699
Essex
Moat
07002 662 846
Sussex
Moat
07002 662 846