Mutual exchanges

Mutual exchanges allow secure council or housing association tenants to exchange properties.

Exchanges can often be quicker than joining the housing waiting list for a move. You can exchange your home with another Rugby Borough Council tenant, a tenant of another council or a housing association tenant.

Am I eligible to exchange?

You must rent your current property under a secure, fixed-term or assured tenancy in order to be considered for a mutual exchange.

Common reasons for a mutual exchange to be refused include:

one or both of the parties involved currently face legal action for breach of tenancy (including rent arrears)
there are rent arrears on the account
one or both properties has too many/too few bedrooms for the number of people wishing to exchange
one or both properties has been specially adapted (eg for a tenant with a physical disability) and the new tenant wants the adaptations to be removed

How do I find a mutual exchange?

You can register on a number of mutual exchange websites to find an exchange.

Popular exchange websites include:

Homeswapper
Social media sites e.g. Facebook
Local newspapers
Local shops and advertising boards

You have the responsibility of arranging to view properties you're interested in. You take a mutual exchange property in the condition you view it - the council cannot be responsible for alterations, repairs or decoration you consider necessary once properties have been exchanged.

Top tips to help in your search for a mutual exchange

make sure you only consider properties suitable for the size of your household
can you afford the rent of the properties you're looking at?
if you have a pet, make sure you're allowed to take it with you to your new property
if you have a car, does the property you're looking at have parking?
make sure you check the type of tenancy your proposed exchange partner has - depending on your circumstances, you may lose your security of tenure

I've found a suitable property to exchange - what happens now?

You need to contact Rugby Borough Council and request a mutual exchange application form. It will need to be completed by you, as Rugby Borough Councils current tenant, and also the potential incoming tenant. This should be returned to Rugby Borough Council for the attention of your Housing Officer.

Once your Housing Officer has received your application they will have 42days in which to complete their checks and assessments before issuing a final decision. The 42 day deadline does not mean that you have to have moved within that time period but a decision from the Landlord must be given within that timeframe.

Failure to do this would result in the process needing to be re-started. The Housing Officer will complete vigorous checks to ensure your eligibility, check the condition of our current property, complete Landlord reference request for the incoming tenant and carry out gas and electric checks.