Everything you need to know about swapping your tenancy in a mutual exchange.
A mutual exchange is when you swap your home with another council or housing association tenant, often to move to a larger or smaller home or to a different area. When you mutually exchange, you are swapping your tenancy with someone and taking on all conditions of their existing tenancy.
Please take a look at our Mutual Exchange Policy here which outlines our responsibilities and our customers obligation during the mutual exchange process.
Only Secure and Assured tenancy holders have the right to exchange, and you’ll find whether this right applies to you in your tenancy agreement with Moat. There are some reasons why we may not give permission for the exchange, so before completing the application form, you should ask yourself the following questions:
If you are unsure about the type of tenancy you hold, please get in contact with us on 0300 323 0011.
The easiest way to find a suitable home to swap with is to sign up on House Exchange, the UK's leading not-for-profit mutual exchange service. The service has thousands of properties available across the UK, and as we are a partner, you are able to register, advertise your property and find a swap free of charge. To find out more, watch this video and visit their website www.houseexchange.org.uk.
You can also register with another large mutual exchange provider HomeSwapper - www.homeswapper.co.uk
When you have found someone to exchange with, all parties need to complete a mutual exchange application form. You can get the form by emailing us at [email protected] or calling 0300 323 0011.
Please send your completed mutual exchange application form to:
Address: Moat, Mariner House, Galleon Blvd, Crossways, Dartford DA2 6QE
Email: [email protected]
Once we receive your form, we will schedule appointments with you to inspect your home and carry out gas and electricity tests. We will give you a final decision within 42 days (6 weeks) of receiving your completed application. Most exchanges take between 6-10 weeks to complete.
We also have to carry out a number of checks, including references for you and the person you wish to exchange with.
As part of mutual exchanges, each tenant must accept the home in its current condition. It is your responsibility to check the home you want to move to thoroughly, considering things like:
• Outstanding repairs and anything you will be expected to maintain or repair.
• The tenancy type and tenancy conditions that you will be taking over, along with the new rent or other service charges you will be responsible for paying. There may be differences to your existing tenancy, such as a ‘no pets’ rule.
• Whether it’s a lifelong or fixed-term tenancy (which is offered by some other housing providers). It is important that you find out how long the fixed period will be and check whether this arrangement is suitable for your household.
You should not make any plans to move until you have received written permission from both landlords.
Whether viewing someone else’s home or showing your own, we recommend that you take some basic precautions to ensure your safety:
Please note that either party can cancel the exchange at any point before the assignment documents are signed. It is a criminal offence to pay or receive any payments to carry out a mutual exchange, and tenancy action could be taken if there is evidence to support that an offence has been committed.
If you have any questions, doubts or concerns, please contact us for more information and advice.