Tenancy exchanges or mutual exchanges

A tenancy exchange is when you swap your home with another council or housing association tenant.

It is often called a mutual exchange.

You need to:

• find someone to swap homes with

• get written permission from your landlords

• complete exchange documents

Make sure you get your landlord's permission and fill in the right documents. You could be evicted if you do not.

A tenancy transfer is different. This is when you apply to move to another council or housing association home. You usually have to go on a waiting list unless you need to move urgently.

Who can exchange their tenancy

You can usually exchange homes if you have a:

• secure council tenancy

• flexible (fixed term) council tenancy

• fully assured housing association tenancy

• secure housing association tenancy

• assured shorthold tenancy (AST) with a housing association - only fixed term ASTs of at least 2 years

You cannot exchange an introductory tenancy but some councils might agree to give you a new tenancy if you want to exchange.

You cannot exchange a starter tenancy or demoted tenancy.

Your rights when you exchange

If you have a secure or assured tenancy which began before 1 April 2012 and you swap with a fixed term council or housing association tenant, you should get another lifetime tenancy.

If you have a secure or assured tenancy which began on or after 1 April 2012 and you swap with a fixed term council or housing association tenant, you could lose your lifetime tenancy.

How to find someone to swap with

You can use a tenancy exchange website.

For example:

• Homeswapper

• House Exchange

• Exchange Locata

It's free to register with some sites but some charge.

When you register, you are asked about your home, the kind of home you're looking for and where you want to live.

You get details of properties, contact other tenants and set up viewings.

Paying for a tenancy exchange

It is illegal for you or the other tenant to charge a fee to exchange.

You could be evicted if you charge or get any money to swap your home.

Ask your landlord for permission

Ask your landlord for permission to exchange when you find a tenant who wants to swap.

You must get permission and follow the right steps.

The tenant you are swapping with must get permission from their landlord.

Make your request for a swap in writing. Your landlord has 6 weeks to respond in writing.

You could be evicted if you try to exchange your tenancy without permission.

If your landlord says no

Councils and housing associations can only say no for reasons like:

• you are being evicted

• you work for your landlord and your home comes with your job

• your home is adapted for a person with special needs and nobody in the new tenant's household has those needs

• the home you want to move to is larger than you need

• the home you want to move to is too small and your household would be overcrowded

Your landlord must write to you within 6 weeks explaining why they will not let you exchange.

If they miss this deadline, they cannot refuse permission for the exchange.

You must still get written agreement from them before you swap.

If you have rent arrears, you usually must pay your arrears back before you can exchange.

Your landlord can add this after their 6 week response deadline.