Mutual exchange
What is a mutual exchange?
If you are a social tenant looking to move property, one option is to swap homes with another social tenant. Instead of joining our waiting list and having to place expressions of interest, we may be able to help you find another social tenant you can swap properties with.
How does it work?
Consider the following situation:
Tenant 'A' is living in a one bedroom flat but due to a change of circumstances, now requires a two bedroomed property. Ideally they'd like a house.
Tenant 'B' is living in a two bedroomed house but no longer needs the extra bedroom and wishes to down-size to a one bedroom property to save on the bills. They don't mind if they move to a flat or a house.
Instead of tenants 'A' and 'B' both joining the waiting list and placing expressions of interest in empty properties they could simply swap properties to the benefit of both of them.
If both tenants decide they want to swap, they must then contact their landlords to arrange for the tenancies to be correctly swapped.
Who can mutually exchange?
A tenant of a social landlord can mutually exchange properties with another tenant of a social landlord. They do not have to have the same landlord or live in the same area, but they must both be social tenants and have permission from their landlord. The landlord will not usually deny permission but might do under some circumstances - for example outstanding rent arrears or failing a property inspection.
How do I add my details to the register?
There are current two providers who operate across the whole of the country and access to these is free for those tenants whose landlord is a partner, and a small fee is payable for social tenants whose landlords are not partners in either scheme.
The schemes are:
