Housing Transfer

Transfer of stock to a register social landlord is a well-established means of securing investment for the improvement of social housing and contributing to wider regeneration. It delivers improvements to tenants' homes but also secures greater and more meaningful tenant involvement in the management of their homes.

Authorities contemplating transfer are required to work closely with tenants at all stages of the transfer process. An authority can only decide on stock transfer after a full investment Options Appraisal (OA), carried out in consultation with its tenants, that has considered the alternative means of achieving the Decent Home Target. The Appraisal must be signed off by the relevant Government Office.

Every effort must be made to involve black and minority ethnic communities and registered social landlords to ensure their needs are addressed when developing a transfer proposal.

Any local authority wishing to transfer 500 or more dwellings to a single registered social landlord (RSL) must obtain a place on the annual Large Scale Voluntary Transfer (LSVT) Programme. The annual LSVT Programme allows local authorities to complete their transfers over two years. LSVT transfers can only take place if: