Mutual exchange
If you're a social housing tenant renting from a housing association or a Council, a mutual exchange might be a great way to find a new home. This process involves two or more tenants swapping their homes and tenancies. It's often the quickest and best option for those in areas with housing shortages.
Eligibility
- Tenants with Assured or Secure tenancies can apply. If you're unsure about your tenancy type, contact your landlord.
- A mutual exchange may be available to those in social housing but who do not qualify to join the Council’s housing register.
Steps to exchange
When you have identified someone who might like to swap with you, the next step is usually to visit each other’s property. Most people agree to an exchange based on the number of bedrooms and the location of a property but it important to think carefully before exchanging and to take advice on any changes there may be in rights, responsibilities and rent or charges. You should contact your landlord for full advice before agreeing any potential swap.
A mutual exchange can take place between two or more households.
When all parties involved in a mutual exchange have decided they wish to go ahead, you should contact your landlord and ask for their mutual exchange application form, the landlord has 42 days after receiving the completed request to make a decision on whether to approve a move. Your landlord may wish to carry out a property inspection as part of that decision-making process.
Reasons for refusal
A landlord can refuse a mutual exchange request for reasons such as:
- A notice seeking possession or Court Order has been served for breach of tenancy
- The property you wish to move to is too large or too small for your needs (although usually the rules on property size entitlement are more generous than the Council’s housing register)
- The property has disabled or other adaptations and no one moving to the property in the proposed exchange would need those adaptations
- The property has an age requirement which would not be met with the proposed exchange
- You have rent arrears, which most landlords will wish to be cleared before you exchange.
Safety tips
- Personal Safety: Have someone with you during visits or take a friend or family member when visiting another property.
- Valuables: Don't leave valuable items on display during viewings.
- No Financial Incentives: You should never offer or accept financial incentives for a mutual exchange. Offering or accepting money for a mutual exchange is illegal.
Resources
There is lots of useful information about mutual exchanges on the Shelter website.
Most people seeking a mutual exchange use a tenancy exchange website to help find another tenant to swap with. For example:
It's free to register with some sites but others do charge a fee. Many people look on local social media sites for an exchange too.