Mutual Exchange presentation slides
Mutual exchange is one of the quickest and most flexible ways for tenants with a secure, fixed‑term, or assured tenancy to move home.
It allows you to swap your home with another housing association or council tenant, giving you more choice, more control, and often a much faster route to finding a home that suits your needs.
We are committed to being pro‑active and supportive, and we will work with you at every step to help make your move as smooth, simple, and positive as possible.
Why choose mutual exchange?
- You can look for homes in a wide range of areas
- You have far more flexibility than waiting for a transfer
- Many tenants move successfully every year through mutual exchange
- You get to choose a home that better fits your family and lifestyle
Find your match on HomeSwapper
HomeSwapper is the UK’s largest mutual exchange website and it’s completely free for our tenants to use.
On HomeSwapper, you can:
- Search thousands of available homes
- Advertise your own property
- Add photos to make your advert stand out
- Send and receive messages from potential swap partners
We strongly encourage every tenant thinking of moving to explore HomeSwapper as a great way of finding your next home.
You can also read the helpful HomeSwapper Welcome Guide for tips and advice.
Read Homeswapper welcome guide
Rightsize – Helping you find a home that fits
Rightsize is a function on Homeswapper that allows us to proactively help you in your search to move home. If your current home no longer suits your needs for example, if you need more space, less space, or a home that is easier to manage, our Rightsize approach is here to help.
We will:
- Support you in finding a property that better matches your household.
- Guide you through your available options, including mutual exchange.
- Work with you pro‑actively to remove barriers and help you move sooner.
Rightsize and HomeSwapper work hand‑in‑hand to give you real choice and flexibility.
When you’ve found a potential swap
Once you’ve found someone you want to exchange with, you’ll need to apply for permission through the HomeSwapper site.
Most tenants can apply. However, in some cases, eligibility may be limited, for example if:
- You rent through an Intermediate Rent or Shared Ownership scheme
- You have a Starter Tenancy
- The property would be under‑occupied or over‑occupied for the incoming household
- Your home has specialist adaptations not suitable for the incoming tenant
- The incoming tenant has legal action pending on their tenancy
Don’t worry, we will guide you through the checks.
Track your progress with SwapTracker
Once both households have submitted the application, it will appear on your HomeSwapper dashboard as SwapTracker.
SwapTracker allows you to:
- See every stage of your application
- Track progress in real time
- Know exactly what is happening and what comes next
This makes the process clear and transparent for both tenants.
What happens next?
After receiving both applications, we will:
- Assign a team member to your case
- Send your exchange partner a link to complete their part of the application
- Visit your home to check for any damage or alterations that may need attention
- Provide a reference to your partner’s landlord
- Request a reference from their landlord
Please make sure your household details and contact information with us are up to date, as this can affect the reference and avoid delays.
Once all checks are completed and satisfactory, you will receive a decision within 42 days.
Finally, you will both sign the assignment paperwork to formally exchange tenancies.
Important: Do not swap keys early
You must not swap keys or move into another property until:
- You have received our formal permission, and
- All paperwork has been completed by both landlords
Exchanging early can put your tenancy at risk.
When you swap homes, you take on full responsibility for the other property exactly as it is.
Please make sure you’re happy with the condition of the home before agreeing to move.
