Moving from council house in North to one in South - possible?

[OldLeatherSuitcase]

My parents live in the North in a housing association property, they're on disability and various other benefits.

To help them more I'd like to move them to the South but not sure where to start with this. I looked on my council website but it says you have to be resident in our town for three years first.

Do any of you have any experience of this? Or any advice?

The 'North' and 'South' are pretty large areas, can't you be more specific?

The location shouldn't matter, it's more whether anyone has moved from one area to another and how they found the process.

I've found some info online now with Shelter saying you can apply for transfers or to swap with someone.

But it'd be interesting to hear whether anyone has managed to do this and how long it took.

The major constraint will be the available housing stock in their preferred destination, which is, of course, very location dependent, so yes, some indication of destination location would increase your chance of good quality information in any replies.

Friends moved from Ealing to an isolated area in the Scottish highlands, where there were more houses than people. They were allowed to rent a housing association house for six months while they did serious renovations on their house purchase.

That would never happen anywhere here, as housing is so oversubscribed.

theres a council house swapper website have a look for it.See if any one wants to swap you may get lucky

It was a while back, but my grandparents were able to move areas - they had a lovely 3 bed council house by the sea, and relocated to a one bed over 60's bungalow near my mum. But I think it was possible as the council in their area were desperate for the house, and mums area had a very high turnover of these bungalows as they were in a village and not warden controlled etc, but I seem to remember the flats in mums town were a lot harder to get.
I think you'd have to phone your local housing association/ council and ask as its going to depend on so many things like the local mix of housing stock, if your parents need specific adaptations and so on

There can be a family connection priority I think. Maybe look at sheltered accommodation as well. Good luck

some housing associations will consider new residents if they have a local family connection, we might be able to help a bit more if you are happy to tell us the general area they would like to move to?

I can't see how that would be possible. There's probably long waiting lists for houses in the south. But as someone said if they are struggling they might be put higher on a waiting list. You could approach age UK for their advice. And contact your local council.

www.councilexchangesite.co.uk/

The area you live in is relevant because of the housing situation. In London it would have to be private as chance of getting social housing isn’t that great.

On the south coast depending which coastal town doing a swap would be possible. Other locations also have this especially if the primary location is over populated. Think it’s called relocation scheme - council website.

As pp has pointed out a mutual exchange might be a solution. Again the areas would be important.

And of course, private rental.

The only way is to do a mutual exchange. You can swap anywhere in the UK. Plenty of Facebook groups for swaps and the homeswapper website.

Oh and downsizing when moving from one area to another can also be another option. Details should be on council website. These can also come with help with removals and other expenses just depends on the two locations

Although would supported living be more useful in terms of the long term arrangements?