Mutual exchange

We have partnered with HomeSwapper. This is the UK’s largest online community of social housing tenants who want to swap homes. As a Home Group customer, HomeSwapper is completely free for you, because we cover the cost of the service.

Once you're registered and approved, you can:

• Advertise your current home
• Search thousands of available properties
• Receive automatic alerts when a match is found that fits the bill.
• Connect with other tenants who are also looking to swap

You can also find home swaps in local adverts in shops, newspapers, libraries or social media. You need to arrange to have a look around any social housing homes you like the look of. 

On the hunt for a house exchange? Check out our top five tips:

1. Make sure you’re looking at homes that are the right size for your household
2. Check you can afford the rent for the homes you’re looking at
3. If you have a pet, make sure you’ll be able to get permission to keep your pet in the home
4. If you have a car, check if there’s parking available and if you’ll need a permit
5. Find out what kind of tenancy your exchange partner has. If the exchange is approved, you take over the other person’s tenancy agreement. That means your terms and conditions may change. You may lose certain rights, such as the Right to Buy or Preserved Right to Buy, depending on who you exchange with

It’s really important you are happy with the area you’re hoping to move to and with the condition of the property. Mutual exchanges are a voluntary arrangement between you and your exchange partner. You each agree to accept the home you’re moving into ‘as seen’, in the condition your exchange partner leaves it in. This includes the responsibility for any improvements or alterations they have made.

We will not carry out any improvements or fix any damage, disrepair, or poor decoration, unless it’s clearly the landlord’s responsibility and the issue is not the result of abuse or misuse. We strongly recommend visiting the home more than once and checking it carefully inside and out.

It is illegal to take money or offer an incentive of any kind to make someone swap homes with you. If you’d like to speak to us about this, or if you think someone may be trying to persuade you to swap homes illegally, please contact us straight away.

Both you and your exchange partner, (or partners, if you’re part of a chain of exchanges), will need to fill out a mutual exchange application form each.

You can complete, scan and return the PDF form below via email to contactus@homegroup.org.uk. If you are struggling to do this, please call us, so that we can put you in touch with your housing manager. They will be able to advise on an alternate option to get the form to us. You may also need to fill out application forms for any other landlords involved.

You can only swap houses if you’re on a secure, assured or fixed-term tenancy. If you’re on a starter tenancy, you won’t be eligible until you’ve completed your 12‑month period and moved to an assured or fixed‑term tenancy. You can’t exchange with a private customer or homeowner either.

We will only refuse to give permission for an exchange if there’s a good reason. These reasons are set out by law, some of the most common reasons for an exchange being turned down are:

• One of the properties has too many or not enough bedrooms
• If one of the properties has been specially adapted. For example, for someone with a physical disability and the exchange partner doesn’t need those adaptations, the exchange may not be allowed
• One party has rent arrears or is in the middle of legal action for breach of tenancy. You can re-apply for a mutual exchange if the issue can be resolved. For example, rent arrears are cleared or the tenancy breach is put right.

If we are unable to approve your mutual exchange, we will always explain why. If you think we’ve misunderstood something in your application, please get in touch and we will review it with you. If you’re still unhappy after we’ve spoken, you can use our complaints process. You can submit a complaint online, or contact us and we’ll explain how it works.

Once we receive your completed mutual exchange forms, we will carry out a series of checks to make sure everything is in order. This includes confirming your information and reviewing your tenancy to ensure you are eligible to exchange.

When your exchange process begins, a housing manager and a maintenance surveyor will visit you in your current home. They will need to:

• Check out your current home and let you know if there are any repairs you will need to do before the exchange
• Complete a reference for you for the other landlord
• Pay a visit to your exchange partner and double check we are happy with their reference

Once we have received your application, we will notify you within 42 days with the outcome of your application.

When we consider your application for mutual exchange we use a room requirement criteria. You may be entitled to more than the minimum depending on circumstances, the age and gender of any children. This is a guideline only as variations may occur.

• ‘Adult’ refers to anyone aged 16 or over
• Households with a medical requirement for level access will be given priority for ground floor flats and bungalows, where they are available. 

A separate bedroom is considered necessary for:

• Every adult couple (married/civil partnership or unmarried)
• Any adult aged 16 or over who lives with you
• Any two children of the same sex aged under 16
•  Any two children aged under 10
•  A child with severe disabilities who is unable to share a bedroom
• Any other child 
• An approved foster carer to use for placements (subject to meeting the DWP rules)
• A carer (or team of carers) who does not live with the applicant but provides the applicant or their partner with overnight care.

NOTE: Children whose main residence is elsewhere are not eligible for a bedroom.