A tenant guide. Swapping your home. Mutual exchanges and how they work

Transcription

1 A tenant guide Swapping your home Mutual exchanges and how they work

2 Why swap your home? There are lots of reasons why you might want to swap your home. Perhaps the property you live in is too small and you need more space or it s too big and your housing benefit is being reduced because you have too many bedrooms. Maybe you re looking for a home that s more manageable, or you would like to move to a completely new area. If your property no longer suits your needs and you d like to do a swap, a mutual exchange with another council or housing association tenant could be the ideal solution. 2

3 What is a mutual exchange? A mutual exchange is when two or more secure council or secure or assured housing association tenants swap their homes. With their landlord s permission, each tenant moves into the property of the person they are exchanging with. You can exchange with: another tenant of your current housing provider a tenant of another council or housing association. If you d like to swap your home you ll need your housing provider s permission and you ll need to complete and sign the proper legal paperwork before you move (the person you are exchanging with will need to do the same). When you swap, you will usually take over the existing tenancy agreement of the person you re exchanging with. You will be agreeing to take over your new home as it is, so if the property needs decorating or repairing, you must be willing to carry out the work yourself.! It s not possible to exchange into an empty property. 3

4 Who can exchange? Any council or housing association tenant with a secure or assured tenancy can apply for a mutual exchange. In some circumstances your housing provider may turn down your application to move, such as: X If you: Have a demoted or starter tenancy. Are in arrears with your rent. Have caused a nuisance or anti-social behaviour, or you ve breached your tenancy agreement in some other way. Haven t allowed them to carry out a gas and safety check during the last 12 months. X If they: Are taking court action against you. Have issued a notice seeking possession of your property. 4

5 X If your current property: Is in very poor condition. Has been altered without your housing provider s permission. X If the property you want to move into: Is too big or too small for your needs. Has been designed or adapted for a disabled or older person, or built for a specific age group and you, or the person you re exchanging with, don t qualify for that kind of housing. 5

6 How do you find someone to exchange with? You ll need to join Homeswapper, a scheme which has been designed to simplify the exchange process. Homeswapper is an online database of people who want to move home. It s free to use and allows you to find people who live in the type of property you want to move to. It s a nationwide service, so you can move within your existing area or anywhere else in the country. To register for the scheme, go to and complete the online application form. You ll need to fill out your contact information and provide details of the kind of home you d like to move to the number of bedrooms you need, your choice of locations, and any other special features you re looking for (such as a large garden, or a flat on the ground floor). With Homeswapper you can search for a new home online. When you find a property that looks interesting, you will need to contact the tenant by phone or to arrange to view each other s homes. You can show interest in as many properties as you like until you find a home that suits you. To increase your chances of finding an exchange partner quickly, you could also advertise in local papers and shop windows, or consider a swap with a member of your family, or a friend. 6

7 Your housing provider may also be aware of suitable exchanges within your area. Contact your Housing Officer for more information. Tenants in Derby can also join the Derby Home Swap Scheme. Visit for more information. 7

8 Tips for a smooth exchange For your safety and security, make sure you have another adult with you during any viewings and accompany potential exchange partners as they view your home. Try to be as flexible as possible with viewing times. Share your knowledge of your local area with potential exchange partners. Let them know where the nearest shops, schools and doctor s surgeries are located, and give them information to help them understand what it s like to live in your neighbourhood. Create the right first impression by tidying up your garden, mowing your lawn, cutting your hedges and clearing away any rubbish. Keep your house clean and tidy and get rid of anything you don t need. Decluttering now will save you time and effort when you move! 8

9 What happens next? When you ve found someone to swap homes with, you and the person you re exchanging with will need to complete a mutual exchange application form. You may also need to complete a form for your exchange partner s landlord if they aren t your current housing provider. Once your housing provider receives these forms they will consider your request and either approve or refuse permission for the move. They have up to 42 days to decide, but they ll usually try to reach the decision sooner if they can. If they aren t willing to give you permission to exchange, they ll write to let you know. If it s because of something about your tenancy, they ll tell you why. If the decision is connected to your exchange partner s tenancy they may not be able to tell you the reason for refusal. In these circumstances it s best to talk to your exchange partner to see if the problem can be sorted out. If it can t, you ll need to find someone else to swap with. If your exchange is approved, your housing provider will arrange to inspect your property to make sure it s in good condition, (they ll also carry out a gas and electricity safety check). Once an inspection has been done, they ll contact you to arrange a date for the move. Please make sure you don t move until you ve signed with your housing provider and the other landlord (if there s another housing provider involved). If you move before you sign the legal paperwork you could lose your security of tenure or be evicted. 9

10 Important points If you re planning a mutual exchange, here are some important things to consider. 1 Make sure you can afford to move. You ll need to arrange and pay for the removal yourself. 2 If you have a joint tenancy you ll both need to agree to the exchange. 3 You re not allowed to give or accept money or goods in exchange for agreeing to a swap. If you do, you could be fined or even evicted. 4 Check that you re happy with the condition of the property you re moving to. Any defects won t be repaired unless they are a risk to health and safety. 5 You will be responsible for all non-essential repairs and for redecorating. 6 Don t move without getting permission. If you do, both you and your exchange partner will risk losing your security of tenure and you could face eviction or be forced to return to your original homes. 7 Once your housing provider has given you permission to move, you will need to agree with your exchange partner what fixtures and fittings (including carpets) you will leave behind in your old home. 10

11 8 Find out if your tenancy conditions will change when you move. When you complete a mutual exchange you usually take over the tenancy rights of the person you are swapping with, which could mean losing some of your existing rights (such as the right to buy). It s your responsibility to check this before deciding whether to exchange. 9 If you re swapping with someone who isn t a tenant of your current housing provider, it s a good idea to ask their landlord for a copy of the tenancy agreement so that you can compare it with your own. More Information? If you need more information about swapping your home, get in touch with your housing provider s mutual exchange team. 11

12 Derwent Living No 1 Centro Place Pride Pride Derby DE24 8RF Tel: info@derwentliving.com Website: A Guide to Swapping Your Home This short guide provides essential information for social housing tenants who are thinking about swapping their home. It will help you understand what a mutual exchange is, whether you are eligible to exchange, and how you can find someone to swap with. Also included are useful tips and pointers to make sure your home swap goes smoothly. Guidemark Publishing Limited All rights reserved.