Moving On
During your time as an English Rural resident your housing needs may change. English Rural will offer support and guidance to all residents who wish to move on.
Transfer and Mutual Exchanges
If you hold an assured tenancy with English Rural (and are outside your starter period) you have the right to exchange your property with another social housing tenant.
Any exchange partner will need to meet the local connection criteria applicable to your scheme. A mutual exchange should not leave the property overcrowded or under-occupied, and no exchanges can be approved if your rent account is not fully up to date.
An inspection of your property will be carried out before approving the exchange to ensure your home has been maintained satisfactorily.
If you wish to move through mutual exchange your Housing Manager can provide the necessary details. Should you use the website Homeswapper then English Rural will reimburse you for the subscription fees you incur.
If a property becomes available on your development, the Association may in some limited cases consider a request for an internal transfer. You will be asked to complete an application form giving details of why you should be considered for transfer to the vacant property.
Residents who are looking to move to more suitable housing will be encouraged to register with the Local Authority for re-housing; they are likely to be able to offer a wider range of accommodation to meet your needs.
Ending Your Tenancy
Under the terms of your tenancy agreement, you are required to give at least 4 weeks' notice to end your tenancy. You will need to complete the Tenancy Termination form which can be accessed from your online account. Further information can be found here.
Your 4-week notice period will begin the following Monday after we have received your termination form. Please ensure that you include your new address when completing the termination form.
Once we have received your termination notice your Housing Manager will contact you to discuss any outstanding rent that will be due before you move and arrange an inspection of your property. You will subsequently be advised of any works you are required to undertake before vacating. If any specified works are not carried out, then the costs of doing so will be noted and recharged to you as per our Rechargeable Repairs Policy.
Selling Your Shared Ownership Home
If you decide to sell your shared ownership home, you will need to contact us and request further information on selling your property. If the lease term of your property is below 80 years, you will need to consider extending the lease term as part of the sale process.
When selling your property, you will need to instruct a RICS registered surveyor to provide a full market valuation of your property, and you will also need to ensure your property has a valid Energy Performance Certificate. Your property will be advertised locally by English Rural and we will select a suitable buyer from any applications we receive. If we are unable to find a suitable purchaser, you will have the option of marketing your property through an estate agent.
