Moving out of your council home
You may find that you want to move from your council home for a number of reasons. This page tells you what you need to do and how we could help you.
If your circumstances change in any way, or if you have any queries about your occupation contract please contact your local housing office who can offer you help and advice.
Transferring to another council home
We have one housing register which includes council contract holders, in the Caerphilly county borough, who wish to move to another property. To join the housing register you will need to complete a housing application form.
Moving because of medical problems
You may need to move to another council housing because of a medical problems that means you cannot carry on living in your current home. You will need to complete a housing application form. If you already have an active housing application, you can tell us of any change in circumstances via self-service by logging into your application at www.homesearchcaerphilly.org. Please contact us if you do not know your login details, or if you require assistance with this service.
Transferring your contract
This is when you want to swap homes with the secure contract holder of another community landlord and used to be called mutual exchange. You can transfer your secure contract to another secure contract holder of this council, a housing association secure contract holder, or a secure contract holder of another council. You must get our written permission before you do this. For details visit our homeswapper section. If we agree to the transfer everyone involved will need to sign a transfer form confirming the transfer.
Ending your contract
You must remember the following
- If you want to end your contract your must give at least 4 weeks notice in writing to your local housing office. Your notice must tell us the date you want the notice to end.
- If you leave your home before the end of tenancy date, you will normally be charged for the rent until your notice ends.
- If you do not leave your home on or before the end of your notice then you will continue to be charged for rent.
- An inspection of your home will be arranged before you are due to leave.
- When you leave everyone who lived in the property with you must move out and you should leave the property clean and tidy otherwise you may be charged.
- Your rent account must be up to date.
- If you carried out any improvements yourself you must either leave the property as it is, or restore it to its original condition. If you wish to take out the improvement, please contact your local housing office for further advice. Some improvements such as central heating must be left in.
- When you leave, you must make sure that you return all of the keys for your home to your local housing office, where you will be asked to sign a key receipt and disclaimer form.
- If you are the next of kin for the tenant you will be asked to confirm your relationship and details.
Joint contract holders
If you have a joint contract with another person both of you are fully responsible for the contract. You are both bound by the conditions of the occupation contract set out in the occupation contract.
If you are joint contract holders, you can no longer end the whole of the contract unless all of the contract holders agree. One contract holder can withdraw from the contract without bringing the whole contract to an end.
If you need more advice on ending a joint tenancy contact your local housing office.
Succession
Sometimes occupation contracts can be transferred to other people if the contract holder dies. This is called “the right to succession”.
Succession generally applies when the secure tenant dies and the contract may be transferred to:
- The husband, wife or civil partner, (or to a person who is living with the contract holder as if they were husband, wife or civil partner) providing they are living in at the property at the time of their death; or
- A close relative, providing they have been living at the property, or have been living with the contract holder, for at least 12 months before the contract holder’s death.
In some cases the property you live in may not be suitable for the needs of the surviving partner or relative. It may be adapted for a disabled person or it may be bigger than is needed. If this is the case the council will assess the situation and may offer an alternative property. The right to succession to the occupation contract does not always mean that it is possible to stay in a particular property.
All cases are judged on their merits and sympathetic consideration will be given in all circumstances and you will need to contact your local housing office for further advice and guidance.
Transferring the contract to another person
If you want to transfer your contract into someone else’s name you may only do so if:
- That person would be entitled to take it over under the rules of succession (see above);
- You obtain our prior written consent to transfer the contract to another secure contract holder (see “Transferring your contract” above) ;or
- If a court order has been made granting the transfer of the contract to a person as part of court proceedings.