A guide to Mutual Exchange Tenancy Services

Transcription

1 I D S O S T R I H U T C K E T S T O C E U V E N L I C N your council working for you A guide to Mutual Exchange Tenancy Services

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3 Introduction You have the right to move between homes, if you can arrange to swap with someone else who would also like to move. A mutual exchange is an exchange of properties between two or more tenants. You can exchange with: Another of our tenants. A council tenant from another local authority. A tenant of a housing association or Registered Social Landlord. How do I find a property to swap with? South Kesteven District Council have signed up to HomeSwapper the largest mutual exchange service for social tenants looking to swap their home. More than 300 other landlords are now signed up to HomeSwapper so there is a now a much greater opportunity to swap your home with someone else. This service is free to all of our tenants and allows you to swap homes with people in the local area or anywhere else in the UK. It will give you more choice, the chance to see photographs of homes on the list and will give you regular news alerts of possible swaps. If you are not a South Kesteven District Council tenant, please check that your Housing Association/Council is registered with HomeSwapper to ensure free registration. If your landlord is not registered with this scheme there is a fee. To sign up to HomeSwapper, you will need to register at Once you have completed an online application form and it has been accepted, you will be able to start searching for your ideal swap.

4 Should you have any queries about HomeSwapper, or need further help, please do not hesitate to call Tenancy & Neighbourhood Services on or Points to consider: - When exchanging properties you are agreeing to accept the proposed new property as seen. Can you afford the weekly rental payments? Is the proposed new property suitable for your needs? Will you be able to get to work/ get the children to school from the proposed new property? If you are moving to another council or housing authority you will be giving up certain rights of your secure tenancy such as your right to buy. You are required to sign a disclaimer form. This may result in you being recharged for failing to complete any agreed repairs or failing to remove all agreed items from the property. If you wish to know whether a new kitchen or bathroom is scheduled to be fitted in the proposed new property you must contact our Repairs and Improvement Team directly on Each party can decide to pull out of the mutual exchange process at any stage; there is no cut off point.

5 I have found a potential property swap, what next? Once you have found someone who would like to exchange with you, contact our Tenancy & Neighbourhood Services team on and ask for a Mutual Exchange application form. You will need the details of your exchange partner and their landlord in order to complete the form. Both parties must hand in applications for our approval. You will not be allowed to mutually exchange if: - Notice of seeking possession has been served. The property is either too big or too small for your needs. The property has been adapted in any way. The property is not in good decorative order. The other landlord is a charitable trust or a charitable housing association and the exchange conflicts with their purposes. You have rent arrears. An exchange can only go ahead when any debts owed to us have been cleared. How long does it take to complete a Mutual Exchange? A Mutual Exchange takes 42 days to process. This time starts from the date that your application is received by Tenancy Services. There are many processes involved in dealing with your application and any parties who move without consent will be made to move back to their original properties until the process has been completed fully.

6 How is my application processed? Once your application has been received you will be contacted by the Neighbourhood Services Assistant who will complete any necessary forms with you and arrange an inspection of your property. A property inspection is necessary to check that your property is suitable for a mutual exchange. This will identify: - Your identity please have an up to date form of identification ready such as a passport, driving licence, birth certificate or utility bill. How many people occupy your current property. The general condition of your property is there any damp or damage? If your property has any adaptations such as ramps, stairlifts, wet room, etc. If your property has been altered in any way such as walls being removed or added, new kitchen/bathroom fitted, cat flap fitted, Conservatory added, etc, and if permission was given by South Kesteven District Council for this. Any rules and regulations regarding boundaries and shared access. If any of the above are identified it may be necessary for a Repairs Supervisor to arrange a further visit with you to inspect your property. You may be asked to make any necessary repairs, such as re-installing any doors that you have removed, before your application can be processed further. This will result in an additional visit to inspect the completed repair. Photographs will be taken internally and externally during the property inspection as a record of the property condition. This is important as all exchanging parties must agree to accept the proposed properties in

7 their present condition. This means that once you have swapped you will be responsible for any damage, maintenance, upkeep and replacement of any repair work necessary to that property. Once an inspection has taken place further checks will be carried out to identify: If you have any rent or council tax arrears What type of tenancy you currently have If you have been investigated for anti-social behaviour If there is any ongoing legal action being taken against you for breach of tenancy Adapted or designated properties are suitable for the exchanging party The property size is suitable for the exchanging party If you are swapping with a tenant of another council or housing authority we will liaise directly with the named representative of that council or housing authority. A report will be compiled and discussions will take place only with the representative of that council or housing authority and not the exchanging party. It is your responsibility to liaise with the exchanging party with regards to items that you wish to be left at the property such as carpets, flooring, fixtures and fittings. Please be aware that this is a verbal agreement between you and the exchanging party. Once all checks have been completed a decision can be made as to whether the exchange is suitable to go ahead. You will be contacted once this decision has been made. If you are successful a provisional date can be arranged for your proposed exchange. Do not make any moving arrangements until this date has been confirmed.

8 I have a confirmed moving date what do I need to do next? Once you have a confirmed moving date we will contact both parties to arrange for the exchange paperwork to be signed. Appointments will only take place at the Customer Services Center in the Grantham office contact details can be found at the end of this leaflet. If you are exchanging with another council or housing authority they will also contact you. We will also arrange for a gas and electric test to take place in our council properties on the day of the exchange. It is important that you are present at the property for this to take place. You can now: - Make arrangements with a removal company to move your belongings Take gas and electric readings and inform the relevant companies of your change of address and moving date Inform the post office and arrange for your post to be redirected If you are in receipt of Benefits you must contact them directly and inform them of your new address and moving date Contact the council tax department and inform them of your new address and moving date During the moving process you must: - Ensure all items are removed from the property and garden including any loft spaces, sheds and out buildings failure to do so may result in you being recharged for removal. Ensure all agreed carpets, flooring, fixtures and fittings are left in or removed from the property as per your verbal agreement with the exchanging party.

9 Ensure any damage to the property that may have occurred after the property inspection has been repaired failure to do so may result in you being recharged for the necessary repair. The garden is tidy and free from rubbish. Be present at the property for the pre-arranged gas and electric check. Once you have completed your exchange you are responsible for any damage, maintenance, upkeep and replacement of any repair work necessary to your new property. If you have any questions regarding the content of this leaflet please do not hesitate to contact Tenancy and Neighbourhood Services on or or us at or write to us: South Kesteven District Council Tenancy Services St Peters Hill, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 6PZ

10 Alternative formats and languages South Kesteven has a rich and diverse culture - a community made up of people from different cultures, with differing backgrounds, beliefs or experiences. This diversity is one of the things that make South Kesteven such a great place to live and work. To ensure all residents of South Kesteven have access to our information material, our information is available in a range of different languages and formats, including large print, Braille, audio tape and computer disc. To request a document in a specific language or format, you can ring us, us or fax us on: Tel: communications@southkesteven.gov.uk Fax: Large print, Braille, audio tape or computer disc This information can be made available in large print, Braille, on audio tape or computer disc. If you, or someone you know, might benefit from this service, please contact us.

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12 H U T K E S T E V E N S O D L I S T R I C T O C U I C N South Kesteven District Council Tenancy Services Council Offices St Peters Hill Grantham Lincolnshire NG31 6PZ tenancy@southkesteven.gov.uk Telephone (01476) Fax (01476) South Kesteven District Council STAMFORD GRANTHAM BOURNE THE DEEPINGS your council working for you