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How do I swap homes?
For many tenants the best way of finding a more suitable home or moving to one area to another is to find another tenant to swap with. This is called a Mutual Exchange. Under the Tenant’s Charter you have the right to exchange, provided you and your exchange partner obtain permission from us.
You can register your name on the exchange list held in our office and check whether there are other tenants on the list with whom you could exchange.
Other housing associations and local authorities keep exchange lists too, so it is worth while checking the lists as well as advertising in local papers and shop windows. You can also register on Homeswapper.
When you have found someone with whom you can exchange, you and your exchange partner must send us an exchange application form. We have a duty to tell you whether you can exchange tenancies or not within 42 days of receiving your application.
Examples of circumstances in which your exchange may be refused are:
- Legal proceedings have commenced on either party on the grounds of rent arrears or some other breach of the Tenancy Agreement.
- The property is unsuitable for your needs.
- One of the properties is tied accommodation or is part of a building that is used for something other than housing purposes.
- One of the landlords is a charity and the proposed tenant’s occupation of the house would conflict with the charity’s purpose.
- If you or your exchange partner has outstanding rent arrears or you owe your landlord money for some other reason such as repairs, court costs, or poor arrears from a previous tenancy approval will only be given on condition that you clear the debt first.
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