swapping homes with other tenants

Swapping homes with other tenants

You may be able to swap homes permanently with another council, housing association or private sector tenant who would like to live in your home. If you don't have enough priority to move or there are other reasons for moving to an area you want, a swap may be the answer.

How can I apply?

Mutual exchange (including online search)

Homeswapper

Before you swap

A few words of caution

How can I apply?

Most Rochdale Council tenants have a legal right to swap their home but you must first get approval from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing by filling in an application to exchange (767kb rtf file). Housing association tenant may also have a legal right to swap if it is part of their tenancy agreement. Private sector tenants need to check with their landlord first, as they do not have any legal right to exchange.

You may not be able to swap homes if:

The home you want to move to is much larger than you need
The swap would cause overcrowding
The landlord is taking legal action against one of the people wishing to swap

Also:

If any tenant interested in swapping has rent arrears, they must be paid off before the move will be allowed
It is illegal to offer money or goods to persuade someone to swap homes with you. You will be expected to sign a form confirming that no money has changed hands.

Mutual exchange

A mutual exchange is where tenants agree to swap homes with the consent of their landlord(s). There are three ways to let other tenants in Rochdale know that you are interested in a mutual exchange.

1. If you are a Rochdale Council tenants and ticked the mutual exchange box on your housing application form you will automatically be on a list of people interested in swapping homes. You can apply to be added to the list at any time by contacting your local housing office .

The list of people wanting to swap homes is updated monthly. You can search for a mutual exchange online or view the list at any housing office. The following information is included on the list:

Your name, address and telephone number
The areas to which you would like to move
The type and size of property you need
Details of the property you are living in (type, size, heating etc)

You can cancel or change your application for a mutual exchange at any time by contacting your local housing office

2. You can also advertise that you are interested in a mutual exchange through the Swapshop. This is an informal way of finding someone to swap homes with. You simply fill in one of the Swapshop forms available at any local housing office and show staff proof of your tenancy (rent book, tenancy agreement). Details about your home and what you are looking for will be displayed on bulletin boards at the of the council customer service centres for three months.

This is a self-help scheme, so once you find someone you may want to swap homes with you should arrange to see each other's homes. Other tenants may also get in touch with you after seeing your details. Please remember to contact people interested in swapping by phone or letter before going to their home

3. Alternatively you can make contact with another tenant yourself but you must contact your landlord for consent before moving.

Homeswapper

The Homeswapper service allows RBH tenants to swap homes with tenants living anywhere else in the country.

Once registered, the scheme will search to find you suitable 'matches' in your chosen area, and as well as being notified of possible matches by email and text your details will appear on nation swap lists.

If you would like to switch to swap. log onto the Homeswapper website at www.homeswapper.co.uk and start planning your future move today.

Before you swap

Whether you find someone to swap homes with through a mutual exchange or through the Homeswapper service each party involved must get his or her landlord's consent before swapping. To do this, call into your local housing office to fill in the exchange forms.

When we get the swap forms, a housing officer will write to each tenant involved in the proposed swap. You must not make arrangements to move at this stage.

Your housing officer will visit you ( and the person you want to swap with if they live in the Rochdale borough) to inspect each property before deciding whether you may swap.

We will let you know the decision within six weeks of your application. If we allow you to swap, all tenants will be asked to go to the housing office to sign the necessary paperwork. If we turn down your application, we will explain why unless the reasons include confidential information about the person with whom you wanted to swap.

You must not move before you get approval from the relevant landlords

A few words of caution

Finding out more about the home you want to move to

Once you have found someone you may want to swap homes with you should try to find out as much as you can about why they want to move and what is involved before you formally agree to swap. Housing staff will tell you what they know about the property and the area, but please remember that sometimes staff do not know all the detail so it is up to you to find out.

Changes in rent and tenancy conditions

Different landlords offer different tenancy conditions and charge different rents. The rent you currently pay may be more or less than the rent of the person you are swapping with. You should check both rent and tenancy conditions with the new landlord before deciding to swap homes.

Repairs to your new home

The landlord will not usually redecorate between one person leaving and another moving in. Discuss any repairs with the landlord before you agree to swap. Do not rely on advice from the person moving out that the repairs will be done.

Moving expenses

Make sure you can afford the moving expenses. If you have claimed Income Support or Job Seeker's Allowance for more than 26 weeks, you may qualify for a Budgeting Loan or a Community Care Grant from the DSS.

For further information contact the DSS, Newgate House, 1 Newgate, Rochdale.

Telephone: (01706) 714000

To keep expenses to a minimum before moving. You cannot legally claim back any money you have spent if the person you plan to swap with decides at any time not to go ahead with the move.

Buying your new home

Some homes cannot be bought by tenants. If the chance to buy your home is important to you discuss this with the new landlord before you agree to swap. The right to buy does not apply to private tenancies and some housing association tenancies.

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Home Information and Services Become a Tenant Current Tenants - Online Services for Tenants - About our Services Leaseholders * * *		Swapping homes with other tenants You may be able to swap homes permanently with another council, housing association or private sector tenant who would like to live in your home. If you don't have enough priority to move or there are other reasons for moving to an area you want, a swap may be the answer. How can I apply? Mutual exchange (including online search) Homeswapper Before you swap A few words of caution How can I apply? Most Rochdale Council tenants have a legal right to swap their home but you must first get approval from Rochdale Boroughwide Housing by filling in an application to exchange (767kb rtf file). Housing association tenant may also have a legal right to swap if it is part of their tenancy agreement. Private sector tenants need to check with their landlord first, as they do not have any legal right to exchange. You may not be able to swap homes if: The home you want to move to is much larger than you need The swap would cause overcrowding The landlord is taking legal action against one of the people wishing to swap Also: If any tenant interested in swapping has rent arrears, they must be paid off before the move will be allowed It is illegal to offer money or goods to persuade someone to swap homes with you. You will be expected to sign a form confirming that no money has changed hands. Mutual exchange A mutual exchange is where tenants agree to swap homes with the consent of their landlord(s). There are three ways to let other tenants in Rochdale know that you are interested in a mutual exchange. 1. If you are a Rochdale Council tenants and ticked the mutual exchange box on your housing application form you will automatically be on a list of people interested in swapping homes. You can apply to be added to the list at any time by contacting your local housing office . The list of people wanting to swap homes is updated monthly. You can search for a mutual exchange online or view the list at any housing office. The following information is included on the list: Your name, address and telephone number The areas to which you would like to move The type and size of property you need Details of the property you are living in (type, size, heating etc) You can cancel or change your application for a mutual exchange at any time by contacting your local housing office 2. You can also advertise that you are interested in a mutual exchange through the Swapshop. This is an informal way of finding someone to swap homes with. You simply fill in one of the Swapshop forms available at any local housing office and show staff proof of your tenancy (rent book, tenancy agreement). Details about your home and what you are looking for will be displayed on bulletin boards at the of the council customer service centres for three months. This is a self-help scheme, so once you find someone you may want to swap homes with you should arrange to see each other's homes. Other tenants may also get in touch with you after seeing your details. Please remember to contact people interested in swapping by phone or letter before going to their home 3. Alternatively you can make contact with another tenant yourself but you must contact your landlord for consent before moving. Homeswapper The Homeswapper service allows RBH tenants to swap homes with tenants living anywhere else in the country. Once registered, the scheme will search to find you suitable 'matches' in your chosen area, and as well as being notified of possible matches by email and text your details will appear on nation swap lists. If you would like to switch to swap. log onto the Homeswapper website at www.homeswapper.co.uk and start planning your future move today. Before you swap Whether you find someone to swap homes with through a mutual exchange or through the Homeswapper service each party involved must get his or her landlord's consent before swapping. To do this, call into your local housing office to fill in the exchange forms. When we get the swap forms, a housing officer will write to each tenant involved in the proposed swap. You must not make arrangements to move at this stage. Your housing officer will visit you ( and the person you want to swap with if they live in the Rochdale borough) to inspect each property before deciding whether you may swap. We will let you know the decision within six weeks of your application. If we allow you to swap, all tenants will be asked to go to the housing office to sign the necessary paperwork. If we turn down your application, we will explain why unless the reasons include confidential information about the person with whom you wanted to swap. You must not move before you get approval from the relevant landlords A few words of caution Finding out more about the home you want to move to Once you have found someone you may want to swap homes with you should try to find out as much as you can about why they want to move and what is involved before you formally agree to swap. Housing staff will tell you what they know about the property and the area, but please remember that sometimes staff do not know all the detail so it is up to you to find out. Changes in rent and tenancy conditions Different landlords offer different tenancy conditions and charge different rents. The rent you currently pay may be more or less than the rent of the person you are swapping with. You should check both rent and tenancy conditions with the new landlord before deciding to swap homes. Repairs to your new home The landlord will not usually redecorate between one person leaving and another moving in. Discuss any repairs with the landlord before you agree to swap. Do not rely on advice from the person moving out that the repairs will be done. Moving expenses Make sure you can afford the moving expenses. If you have claimed Income Support or Job Seeker's Allowance for more than 26 weeks, you may qualify for a Budgeting Loan or a Community Care Grant from the DSS. For further information contact the DSS, Newgate House, 1 Newgate, Rochdale. Telephone: (01706) 714000 To keep expenses to a minimum before moving. You cannot legally claim back any money you have spent if the person you plan to swap with decides at any time not to go ahead with the move. Buying your new home Some homes cannot be bought by tenants. If the chance to buy your home is important to you discuss this with the new landlord before you agree to swap. The right to buy does not apply to private tenancies and some housing association tenancies.