To find someone to swap homes with, you will need to advertise your property. You can do this by going to www.HomeSwapper.co.uk and registering. This is a free service for all Westcountry tenants.
If you have difficulty obtaining internet access a hard copy of the form is available too, but it is better if you can to do it on the internet. Local libraries and many council offices have internet access that you can use, or family or friends may help you. People who put photographs on the site tend to get a quicker swap.
Once you have registered you will be able to go online and view possible matches as well as Homeswapper emailing you at regular intervals with details of suitable exchange partners.
If you do not have access to the internet, Homeswapper will send you details of suitable exchange partners via your mobile phone.
You must have Westcountry’s written consent to do the exchange and the person you are swapping with must have the written consent of his or her landlord. Without this you are putting your home at risk if you go ahead with an exchange. Landlords are allowed 42 days to consider the exchange application and reply, but are usually able to consider them more quickly.
Westcountry 'Starter Agreement' tenants are not eligible for mutual exchanges.
As a landlord we do have a right to reject a mutual exchange if we do not consider it to be appropriate, but we would talk to you about this and explain why if the situation arose.
The most common reasons are:
1. A home will be under-occupied or over-crowded as a result of the exchange. A member of the Allocations or Neighbourhoods Team will be able to tell you how many people are able to live in your property. This may also depend upon their ages and sex.
2. The tenant has outstanding rent arrears, and outstanding Notice or Suspended Possession Order connected with these arrears.
3. The tenancy has not been conducted in a reasonable manner and the tenant has a Possession Order or Notice seeking Possession still in force against them.
BE CAREFUL!
When you find someone to swap with please make sure that you inspect the whole property carefully, including the garden and outbuildings and make sure that it is all in good order. You will be responsible for the condition of the property you are taking on, which includes any repairs or damage. Your new landlord will not mend/replace items for you and indeed could insist that you put them right.
Since the Housing Act 1988, the law relating to mutual exchanges has been complicated because if an Assured tenant exchanges with a Secure tenant they may be swapping their type of tenancy, not just their homes. This might mean that someone may exchange and lose the Right to Buy whereas someone else may gain this right. If you have any queries, please ask our advice before requesting approval to an exchange.
If you have any queries concerning anything about mutual exchanges or Homeswapper please feel free to contact us on 01803 217652, 0300 100 1013 or email lettings@westcountryha.org.uk