Swapping your home www.rooftopgroup.org 1
What is a mutual exchange? If you rent your home from Rooftop Housing Group, you can swap your home. We call swapping your home with another tenant a mutual exchange. You can exchange your home with others in any local authority area and from a different housing association or council, subject to consent from your landlord. Swapping your home Exchanges are often a quicker way for you to move home rather than waiting for a transfer. They are a self help option because it is up to you to find someone to exchange with. All you will need is consent from your landlord. A mutual exchange can be a good option if you are looking to move away from the area because of a new job or to look after a family member where you may not be eligible to join the local waiting list. How do I carry out a mutual exchange? You can register and search for an exchange with other social housing residents, using a national website called Homeswapper. You can visit their website at www.homeswapper.co.uk. If we, and any other landlord involved, agrees to the exchange taking place, then we will give you written permission and you can go ahead and swap. How do I exchange with someone once I have found a property? Once you have found a property that you would like to exchange yours with, you need to fill in a mutual exchange application form. These are available from our head office. Once this application form is received, your housing officer will contact you to arrange a date to meet you at your property. We must make a decision on your application within 42 days of your request. The decision will be in writing. If permission is refused, the grounds for this refusal will be outlined. Normally we will give permission if these requirements are met: the families involved in the exchange will not be making themselves overcrowded or moving into a house that is too large for their family 2 3
the tenancies of both parties have been conducted satisfactorily. There should be no arrears on the rent accounts and no issues regarding anti-social behaviour the homes involved in the exchange must be suitable for the needs of the incoming tenants if a Section 106 agreement exists on the property you wish to move to and you meet the criteria. For example, some rural properties must be given to people who already work or live in the parish We will carry out an inspection of your home before approving an exchange. This is to make sure that the details on your application form are correct, and to inspect the condition of your property. Is there anything else I need to do before the exchange is agreed? Before we can allow your exchange to take place, we have to be certain that your property is of a suitable standard for an incoming resident. You are responsible for ensuring that the property you move to is in good repair. You will be responsible for all resident alterations and the state of the decorating in the property you move to. You will need to check if they intend to remove any alterations and replace them with the landlord s original fittings. Rooftop will not get involved in these arrangements. If you are moving to another Rooftop home, we will provide you with a full list of items that you are responsible for. You will be required to sign a gifted item disclaimer. It is also necessary for a gas and or electrical safety check to be carried out. You will have to pay for the cost of these checks before approval is given for you to exchange. We will tell you how much you will need to pay. A mutual exchange is an assignment of tenancy which means that you enter an agreement with the other tenant, to hand over your tenancy. They will be doing the same. You will be taking responsibility for the other party s tenancy on the same terms and conditions. If you need to carry out any repairs, these must be completed before the exchange is agreed. 4 5
What happens next? If the tenancy conditions are satisfactory and the accommodation is suitable, a convenient date for exchange can be agreed. Agreement forms are prepared by us and will need to be signed on the day of the exchange. We would advise you that no removal vans are booked until you have confirmation of the exchange and an exchange date in writing. Protected tenancies If you have an assured protected tenancy, and you are eligible to buy your home under the Right-tobuy scheme, you will keep this right if you exchange properties with one of our residents. However, please note that some of our properties, for example sheltered housing for the elderly or some new build homes, cannot be bought though the right-to-buy scheme. Please check with us if you re not sure. The person you are exchanging with may not have the same rights as you, and as a result of the exchange, you may lose some of those rights. If you have the preserved right-to-buy you will lose this right when you exchange, unless you are exchanging with another Rooftop owned home or a Spa Housing Association tenant. 6 7
Rooftop Housing Group 70 High Street Evesham, Worcestershire WR11 4YD 01386 420800 enquiries@rooftopgroup.org www.rooftopgroup.org @Rooftop_Housing Rooftop Housing Group Printed April 2014