Swapping your home www.coastandcountryhousing.org.uk
Guide to swapping homes What does this mean? This is where two or more customers want to swap their homes with each other, also known as a mutual exchange. For a swap to be allowed, the landlord of both customers must agree to it. Why swap? As a landlord we encourage you to consider finding a swap if you want to move. Sometimes, finding a swap can be the quickest way to move to another area, or to a home that better meets the needs of you and your family. How do I find a swap? If you are a Coast & Country customer go online and register using our swap finder Swap and Move. Visit www.swapandmove.co.uk. You will need an email address to register for this service. Alternatively contact one of our housing offices. If you register for a move to another Coast & Country home (a transfer), we will automatically register you for a swap and again show you how to search for a match. You can also: Place an advert in your local community centre, shop or newspaper Ask friends and relatives if they know of anyone interested in a swap Word of mouth ask friends and relatives if they know of anyone interested in a swap. Can anyone apply for a swap? Yes, if you are a Coast & Country customer, a local authority tenant or another housing association tenant, with an assured or secure tenancy, you can apply for a swap.
Can I apply for a swap if I have an assured shorthold tenancy? No, unfortunately customers who have an assured shorthold tenancy do not have any legal right to swap. If you are not sure what type of tenancy agreement you have, speak to your housing office. Can more than two customers swap homes? Yes, it is not unusual for more than two customers to swap homes. These are dealt with in the same way as two-way swaps, as long as all landlords agree. What do I do when I find someone who wants to swap with me? When you find someone you might want to swap with, you need to contact them to arrange to have a look at their home. You will find their contact details on their advert. We also suggest you think about the following: The area If you don t know the area ask about: The neighbourhood Local schools Shops and the local post office Public transport. The property Make sure it meets your needs: Is the size and type of the property suitable for you and your family? Are there any signs of damage eg broken glass, holes in walls or doors, missing doors, loose electrical switches/sockets etc? You could become legally responsible for repairing these items after you have swapped tenancies. Are the fittings and fixtures in good condition? What is the general condition of the property like? If you have to decorate, how much will this cost;? Check the condition of the garden.
Remember, if the swap goes ahead, you agree to accept the property as you see it. Rent and bills Can you afford the rent? Are there any other charges for the property? How much is the gas, electricity and council tax? Is the water and sewerage included in the rent or paid separately? Viewing the property Look at the property in the daylight Take someone with you Go back to the property at different times, such as the daytime, evening and weekends. What happens next? Once you have found someone you are interested in swapping homes with, contact us and we will send you the appropriate forms or you can download them at www.coastandcountryhousing.org.uk. If you want to swap with a customer who is not a tenant of Coast & Country, they will also need to contact their own landlord to ask for permission. Remember, the other person must also be a tenant of a housing association or a local authority. You cannot swap with a private tenant or someone who does not have the right tenancy agreement. Copies of the completed forms need to be returned to your housing office and/or the other landlord where applicable. Make sure everyone involved in the exchange have signed the forms. Do not make any arrangements to move at this stage.
As your landlord we will: Write to you once your request for a swap has been received Check your rent account to make sure you don t have any arrears Check your tenancy type and that everyone has signed the forms Check there are no legal reasons stopping you from swapping Make sure the property is suitable for you and your family and that you can afford it. If we are happy with these checks we will: Arrange for a home visit to make sure your property meets the required standard Let you know about any repairs, unauthorised alterations and/or improvements, and check there is no damage to the property Tell you about any repairs that you must put right before you move Talk to you about how suitable the property you want to move to is for you and your family. If your swap is with another landlord, we will send a copy of this report to them and we will ask for the same information from them before we can make a decision. An affordability check may be done, especially if the swap will mean that one of the properties is being under occupied. Remember a swap is a voluntary process that can be ended by either party up to the point of signing the assignment of tenancy documents, so we recommend you do not book any removal vans until these forms have been signed. The decision Once both sets of landlords have visited their tenants and exchanged information, a decision will be made. We will give you a decision within 42 days from the date your application was received. The decision will be: Refusal Conditional acceptance Acceptance.
Refusal If your swap is refused we will tell you why. The Housing Act 1985 outlines the reasons on which we can withhold or refuse consent to a swap. Conditional acceptance You may be allowed to swap homes as long as you complete a certain condition, such as clearing your rent account or carrying out repairs to any damage in your home. Acceptance Your request to swap homes is agreed. If your swap is agreed: We will talk to you about when you want to move and where possible, arrange a date with the other landlord. We will make an appointment for you and the person you are swapping with to sign a deed of assignment. When you assign your tenancy with another tenant you are taking over their tenancy and the rights and obligations that go with it. Once you have signed the deed you are legally bound to move into each other s properties. You and the person you are swapping with are responsible for removals and handing over keys. If you claim housing benefit you will need to complete a new housing benefit form after you have moved home. What if I move without applying for permission? If you swap homes with another customer without our permission, you will lose the security of your tenancy agreement and you can be evicted. Also, if you were in receipt of housing benefit to help pay your rent, this would be cancelled. Remember to always ask for permission in writing and make sure that permission has been granted to you in writing. If you have swapped homes without permission, we will ask both sets of tenants to move back into the property where they have a legal tenancy agreement. If you don t do this, legal action will begin which could lead to the loss of your home.
Contrived swaps A contrived swap can be for example a swap that takes place where one of the parties does not intend to occupy the other property after the swap takes place. If we find out that a swap has been contrived, legal action will take place. Do I have the right of appeal? Yes, if you have been refused a swap and you are not happy with the decision, you may appeal in writing to your Area Manager to appeal against the decision. Cancelling a swap If you wish to cancel your swap please contact your housing office to let them know of your decision. Do not forget that a swap is a voluntary process and if you do not want to go ahead, you can pull out at any time. Gas and electricity safety check We will arrange for gas and electricity safety checks to be undertaken, these will be on the day that you move in. For more information please contact your housing office.
How to contact us Coast & Country, Headquarters 14 Ennis Square Redcar TS10 5JR Find us on Facebook: /coastandcountryhousing Follow us on Twitter: @cchousingonline Website: www.coastandcountryhousing.org.uk Email: enquiries@cchousing.org.uk Text: 07860 017148 Phone: 01642 771300 How to contact our housing offices Redcar Housing Office 14 Ennis Square Dormanstown Redcar TS10 5JR Tel: 01642 836005 Eston Housing Office Barbara Bowater House Kingsley Road Grangetown TS6 7PW Tel: 01642 836010 www.coastandcountryhousing.org.uk