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IDS owns around a thousand general needs properties and two hundred sheltered flats for people over the age
of sixty.

We expect to let about one hundred flats a year and of these around 20% - 25% will be allocated to transfer applicants.

Unfortunately, quick transfers are very rare and you should expect a considerable wait before you receive an offer.

This page explains:
• IDS obligations as a landlord
• IDS Policy on Transfer
• Your rights under housing law
• How IDS Transfer list works

Our head office is based at:
5th Floor, Ockway House
41 Stamford Hill
London N16 5SR
Tel: 020 8800 9606
Fax: 020 8800 5990
Email: housing@ids.org.uk

IDS Transfer System

A Realistic Look at the Situation in London

The current situation is made worse by the chronic housing shortage in London. As other housing associations and councils are in the same situation as IDS it is very difficult to get another landlord to help with our tenants when they are unable to cope with the needs of their own.

…First the Bad News
Many tenants believe that their landlord is under a legal obligation to ensure that they are housed in accommodation that is adequate and suitable for their needs.

This is not the case.

• A social landlord is required to ensure that an offer of accommodation is in line with its policy and housing law at the beginning of the tenancy.

• It has no legal obligation to accept responsibility for future changes in the make-up of the household.

• If you read your tenancy agreement, you will see that it gives a ‘permitted’ number. This is the maximum number of persons that can occupy the premises without it being ‘statutorily overcrowded’. The onus is on the tenant not to overcrowd the property, not on the landlord to find larger accommodation.

…However, the Good News is
As social landlords we will try to meet the reasonable requests for transfers from our tenants and we would not normally consider taking action against a tenant that was unavoidably overcrowding their accommodation.

We have tried to make our transfer system as simple and transparent as possible.

All IDS tenants are eligible to apply for transfer. Any tenant can apply for transfer within their size eligibility. You do not have to have any needs to be eligible. The chart below shows what size property you are eligible to apply for.

We operate a ‘Date of Entry Waiting List’ Your place on the waiting list is determined by the date that you joined the list. This is the only criteria used and you cannot be overtaken by anyone else that applies for transfer after you.

You can apply for as many schemes that have appropriately sized accommodation as you wish. The more schemes you are prepared to consider the quicker you will get to the top of the waiting list.

You are eligible to apply for the size(s) of property indicated in the chart below

Household Size	Accommodation Unit Size Range
Single Person	Bedsit – One Bedroom, two person unit
A Couple	One Bed, two person unit * #
One adult, or adult Couple with one child, or two adults not in a relationship, i.e. siblings.	Two bedroom, three person unit. On estates where there are no three person units, this household size will qualify for a two bedroom, four person unit.
One adult, or adult couple with two children of the same sex	Two Bedroom, Four Person Unit
One adult, or adult couple with 2 children of opposite sexes both under the age of five years	Two bedroom four person unit – Three Bedroom, Five person unit
One adult, or adult couple, with 2 children of opposite sexes with either over the age of five years	Three bedroom four person unit – Three bedroom five person unit.
One adult, or adult couple, with three children	Three bedroom five person unit – Three bedroom six person unit
One adult, or adult couple, with two male children & two female children	Three Bedroom, six person unit
Larger households	The same principles listed above will be applied for larger properties.

* A couple can be considered for a two bedroom, three-person unit when evidence is given supporting this need on medical grounds.

** In the case of 2 children of the same sex but significantly differing ages, (i.e. a baby and a teenage child), or two adult children (18 years +) IDS will consider the family for a smaller three bedroom unit.

# This may be relaxed to allow a couple a two bedroom property on the 3rd/4th floor at Evelyn Court if no applicant more suitable can be identified.

PLEASE NOTE:

IDS will only take account of ‘authorised household occupants’ when evaluating size eligibility. These are:

• Persons listed as occupants at the commencement of your tenancy
• A partner of the tenant
• Children born to the tenant during the tenancy
• Persons you have requested IDS to consider as a permanent part of your household and IDS have agreed in writing to recognise as such.