RBKC Tenancies

A mutual exchange allows you to swap your home with another social housing tenant anywhere in the UK. We support tenants to mutually exchange via HomeSwapper, the UK's largest leading mutual exchange service in the UK. This is a free service to our tenants. 

You may however find another tenant to mutually exchange with yourselves via other means.

If you need additional support accessing mutual exchange services, please contact your local neighbourhood team who are on hand to support you.

There are several housing mobility schemes and mutual exchange services we work with. Some require you to register and search for properties online. These are other mutual exchange services and schemes RBKC works with:

• HomefinderUK
• Seaside and Country Home

Advantages	Disadvantages
You can exchange with another tenant inside or outside of the borough.	You have to accept the new property in its present condition.
You can exchange with a tenant of a housing association.	The other party can pull out at any time up until you move.
Swapping homes could help you avoid a lengthy wait for a transfer.	Only essential repairs are undertaken by the Council within one year of the exchange.
You can thoroughly inspect the other property and be sure it is suitable for your family before applying for a mutual exchange with your landlord.	You will have to accept responsibility for alterations in the home you are moving to.

Can I keep my pets?

We ask you about pets in the application form. If you have a dog and are moving to a property where there is no private garden, we may not give you permission to keep a dog. If this is the case, you will have to make alternative arrangements.

What would prevent me from exchanging with someone?

There are certain restrictions that apply if you want to mutually exchange. For example, you will not be able to exchange if:

• your tenancy is an introductory tenancy.
• you have rent arrears, and the Council has started legal proceedings to recover the debt.
• there is a possession order against you.
• the property you want to swap with is too big or too small for your requirements.
• the property is not mainly for housing services. For example, it is part of a commercial letting or comes as part of a job.
• the property has been specifically designed or adapted for you because of a physical disability and the person who wants to swap does not have the same needs.
• the property is one of a group let to people with special needs and the person who wants to swap does not have those needs

If you have any questions regarding mutual exchanges, please contact your Neighbourhood Management team.

What are the implications to my rent and tenancy conditions?

Different landlords offer different tenancy conditions and charge different rents. The rent you currently pay may be more or less than the rent of the person you are swapping with. You should check both rent and tenancy conditions with the new landlord before deciding to swap homes. It is your responsibility to make sure you can afford the rent in the new property.

Changes to welfare benefit system came into force in 2013 for those of working age and there are new rules about under occupancy. This means if you have a spare bedroom, you will receive 14% less Housing Benefit or housing costs (Universal Credit) and 25% less for two or more bedrooms. You will have to cover the shortfall from your other income. There are exceptions, for example: for tenants of state pensionable age, so it is important you check your entitlement.

You should be aware the type of tenancy you are granted may be different to the type of tenancy you currently hold if you are to swapping with someone else. This means you may be subject to different tenancy terms and lengths. Potential exchangers should take advice on all aspects of the new tenancy terms thoroughly before agreeing to move.

The right to succession is personal to the individual tenant and this right transfers with the tenant when they move in a mutual exchange. No new succession rights are created as a result of a mutual exchange and if the incoming tenant has previously succeeded to a tenancy no further successions would be permitted under the tenancy accepted with RBKC. 

If you move to another landlord your rights may change, so check this first. If you move to a Housing Association property you will not have the Right to Buy.

You should seek legal advice prior to completing a mutual exchange to ensure you fully understand your rights. 

Things to remember

Find out more about the home you want to move to. When you have found someone you may want to swap homes with, find out as much as you can about why they want to move and what is involved before you formally agree to swap.

Visit the property and the area you are thinking of moving to and be sure you are happy to swap. The Neighbourhood Team will provide information about the area and required details of the property, but please remember sometimes they do not know all the detail, so it is up to you to find out.

You should never be under any pressure or offered money to move. It is illegal to offer or accept money in order to swap.

Please be aware that exchange partners can change their mind and cancel an exchange process up to the point a deed of assignment has been signed or tenancy agreements have been surrendered and new tenancy agreements issued. 

It is illegal for you or the other tenant to charge a fee as part of the tenancy exchange. You could be evicted if you charge or receive any money to swap your home.

Ready to swap?

When you have found another tenant and you are both happy with each other’s property, you must ask permission from your respective landlords to exchange. You and the person you want to swap with will both need to complete a Mutual Exchange application form. 

Please read the guidance notes carefully before completing this form. If you have any questions or queries, or need help completing this form, contact us if you are a council tenant. Tenants with other landlords should contact their housing team directly for support.

What happens next

Once we have received your application form, we will get references from your landlord. The other landlord will also need to approve the reference for the council exchange partner. We cannot proceed without consent from both landlords. If your application is refused, we may not be able to tell you why due to confidentiality reasons.

We will inform you with the outcome of your application within 42 days of receipt. All necessary landlord reference checks and compliance checks will be carried out within the 42 days. If both landlords approve, they will write to you to let you know. Both tenants will need to sign and accept the terms and conditions of the tenancy they are taking on.

Contact us

telephone: 0800 137 111 or 020 3617 7080

email: [email protected]