Swappingyourhome by Family Housing Association

A tenant guide

Swapping your home Mutual exchanges and how they work

Why swap your home? There are lots of reasons why you might want to swap your home. Perhaps the property you live in is too small and you need more space—or it’s too big and your housing benefit is being reduced because you have too many bedrooms. Maybe you’re looking for a home that’s more manageable, or you would like to move to a completely new area. If your property no longer suits your needs and you’d like to ‘do a swap’, a mutual exchange with another council or housing association tenant could be the ideal solution.

What is a mutual exchange? A mutual exchange is when two or more secure council or housing association tenants swap their homes. With their landlord’s permission, each tenant moves into the property of the person they are exchanging with.

You can exchange with: • another Family Housing Association tenant, or • a tenant of another council or housing association. If you’d like to swap your home you’ll need Family Housing Association’s permission and you’ll need to complete and sign the proper legal paperwork before you move (the person you are exchanging with will need to do the same). When you swap, you will usually take over the existing tenancy agreement of the person you’re exchanging with. You will be agreeing to take over your new home as it is, so if the property needs decorating, you must be willing to carry out the work yourself.

It’s not possible to exchange into an empty property.

Who can exchange? Any council or housing association tenant with a secure or assured tenancy can apply for a mutual exchange. In some circumstances we may turn down your application to move, such as:

X If you: • Have a demoted or introductory tenancy. • Are in arrears with your rent. • Have caused a nuisance or anti-social behaviour, or you’ve breached your tenancy agreement in some other way. • Haven’t allowed us to carry out a gas and safety check during the last 12 months.

X If we: • Are taking court action against you. • Have issued a notice seeking possession of your property.

X If your current property: • Is in very poor condition. • Has been altered without the permission of Family Housing Association.

X If the property you want to move into: • Is too big or too small for your needs. • Has been designed or adapted for a disabled or older person, or built for a specific age group and you, or the person you’re exchanging with, don’t qualify for that kind of housing.

How do you find someone to exchange with? In order to find someone to exchange with, you could join Homeswapper, a scheme which has been designed to simplify the exchange process. Homeswapper is an online database of people who want to move home. It’s free to use and allows you to find people who live in the type of property you want to move to. It’s a nationwide service, so you can move within your existing area or anywhere else in the country. To register for the scheme, go to www.homeswapper.co.uk and complete the online application form. You’ll need to fill out your contact information and provide details of the kind of home you’d like to move to—the number of bedrooms you need, your choice of locations, and any other special features you’re looking for (such as a large garden, or a flat on the ground floor). With Homeswapper you can search for a new home online. When you find an interesting property, you will need to phone or email the tenant to arrange to view each other’s homes. You can show interest in as many properties as you like until you find a home that suits you. If you do not have access to the internet, please contact the Tenancy Management Team on ( 01792 482702 who will be able to complete the online application on your behalf and help you look for homes that you may be interested in.

Tips for a smooth exchange For your safety and security, make sure you have another adult with you during any viewings and accompany potential exchange partners as they view your home. Try to be as flexible as possible with viewing times.

To increase your chances of a quick swap, you could try advertising in the local paper or shop windows, or consider swapping with someone you know. Keep your house clean and tidy and get rid of anything you don’t need. Decluttering now will save you time and effort when you move!

Share your knowledge of your local area with potential exchange partners. Let them know where the nearest shops, schools and doctor’s surgeries are located, and give them information to help them understand what it’s like to live in your neighbourhood. Create the right first impression by tidying up your garden, mowing your lawn, cutting your hedges and clearing away any rubbish.

What happens next? When you’ve found someone to swap homes with, you and the person you’re exchanging with will need to complete a mutual exchange form. You will also need to complete a form for your exchange partner’s landlord if they are with a different housing provider. You can download the forms from our website 8 www.fha-wales.com, or request them over the phone from the Tenancy Management Team ( 01792 482702, by e-mail  lettings@fha-wales.com and by post  Family Housing Association (Wales) Limited, 43 Walter Road, Swansea, SA1 5PN. Once we receive these forms, we will consider your request and either approve or refuse permission for the move. We have up to 42 days to decide, but we’ll usually try to reach 8

the decision sooner if we can. If the mutual exchange cannot go ahead, we’ll write to let you know. If it’s because of something about your tenancy, we’ll tell you why. If the decision is connected with your exchange partner’s tenancy we will not be able to tell you the reason for refusal. In this case, you’ll need to find someone else to swap with and complete new mutual exchange forms. As part of the mutual exchange process, a Housing Officer from Family Housing Association must arrange to inspect your property to make sure it’s in good condition. Once the inspection is complete, the Housing Officer will contact you to confirm that the mutual exchange can go ahead. An appointment will be made to carry out gas

and electrical safety checks as well as a date for signing the legal paperwork with us and the other landlord (if there’s another housing provider involved). Please make sure you don’t move until you’ve signed the paperwork as you could lose your security of tenure or be evicted.

More Information? If you need more information about swapping your home, get in touch with the Tenancy Management Team at Family Housing Association ( 01792 482702.

Important points If you’re planning a mutual exchange, here are some important things to consider. 1 Make sure you can afford to move. You’ll need to arrange and pay for the removal yourself. However, you may be eligible for assistance if you are on a low income. Contact your local housing benefit office to discuss making a discretionary housing payment application to help with the cost of the move. You may also be eligible for an individual assistance payment from the discretionary assistance fund for further costs. Contact ( 0800 859 5924 for further information. 2 If you have a joint tenancy you’ll both need to agree to the exchange.

3 You’re not allowed to give or accept money or goods in exchange for agreeing to a swap. If you do, you could be fined or even evicted. 4 Check that you’re happy with the condition of the property you’re moving to. Any damage won’t be repaired unless it is a risk to health and safety. 5 You will be responsible for all non-essential repairs and for redecorating. 6 Don’t move without getting permission. If you do, both you and your exchange partner will risk losing your security of tenure and you could face eviction or be forced to return to your original homes.

7 Once we have given you permission to move, you will need to agree with your exchange partner what fixtures and fittings (including carpets) you will leave behind in your old home. 8 Find out if your tenancy conditions will change when you move. When you complete a mutual exchange you usually take over the tenancy rights of the person you are swapping with, which could mean losing some of your existing rights (such as the right to buy). It’s your responsibility to check this before deciding whether to exchange. 9 If you’re swapping with someone who isn’t a Family Housing Association tenant, it’s a good idea to ask their landlord for a copy of the tenancy agreement so that you can compare it with your own.

Family Housing Association (Wales) Limited  (  8

43 Walter Road, Swansea, SA1 5PN 01792 482702 lettings@fha-wales.com www.fha-wales.com

A Guide to Swapping Your Home This short guide provides essential information for Family Housing Association tenants who are thinking about swapping their home. It will help you understand what a mutual exchange is, whether you are eligible to exchange, and how you can find someone to swap with. Also included are useful tips and pointers to make sure your home swap goes smoothly.