Mutual exchanges enable two or more council or housing association tenants to swap properties. To do this you must be a secure council tenant or an assured housing association tenant. You will not be able to do an exchange if you are an introductory tenant. If you are interested in doing an exchange but are not sure if you are able to, ask us or your landlord for more details.
Mutual exchanges can be a quicker and easier way to find a property, which is suitable for your needs and in the area that you require, than applying for a transfer. However, it relies on you doing the work to find a tenant who wishes to swap from their property to yours and then seeking the agreement of your landlords.
If you wish to exchange your home you can contact Sentinel Housing Association. You may also wish to place an advert elsewhere, for example in local newsagents’ windows or the local paper. You can also visit www.homeswapper.co.uk to see other tenant's wishing to move.
If you find a suitable property that you are interested in it is up to you to contact the other tenant(s) and make the necessary arrangements to look at each other’s properties. If you decide that you wish to swap properties you must seek the agreement of the landlords concerned. You must not arrange to move until your landlord tells you that you can. The proposed properties must be suitable for each household’s needs and the rent accounts of all the parties concerned must be clear otherwise your landlord will not be able to agree to the exchange. You must also agree to accept the property in the condition that you see it.