Welcome to Mutual Exchange
Welcome to the Bedfordshire Homerfinder Mutual Exchange service. You do not have to be on the Housing Register to apply to this scheme and registering is absolutely free! If you are looking to move locally or somewhere miles away, Mutual Exchange might be right up your street.
What is Mutual Exchange?
The Mutual Exchange Register holds details of Housing Association and Council tenants from all over the country looking to swap their property with another Council or Housing Association tenant. It’s a bit more flexible than applying to the Housing Register as you may be able to exchange to a property that is smaller or larger than the one you currently have. You might also be able to swap to a different type of property, for example, exchanging a flat for a house.
This is a new service so it will take a little time for tenants to register and the choice of properties to grow on the register. The more tenants that join, the greater the opportunity to exchange. To view new properties being added to the register, simply view this website every week or two.
Who can join the Mutual Exchange Register?
To join the Mutual Exchange register you must be a Council or Housing Association tenant. When you register, you will be asked to provide your contact details and provide a description of your property. You will also be able to list the area and type of property you are looking for. These details will be published on the Mutual Exchange web-site for other tenants to view. This is a public web-site for you and others to view each others property and contact details.
What do I do when I have found a suitable exchange?
- If you see a property on the Mutual Exchange Register and you are interested, you simply contact the tenant directly and arrange a viewing of each others property.
- If you both like each others properties and wish to swap, you will need permission from your landlord.
- If you are a tenant of either Aragon Housing Association, bpha, Central Bedfordshire or Luton Borough Council and have found a tenant you would like to swap properties with, you will need to complete the Mutual Exchange Permission form available on the website and return it to your landlord.
- If you are a tenant of another Council or Housing Association, you will need to contact them to request their permission to proceed. Your landlord will let you know whether or not permission is granted.
Why might permission to exchange be refused?
In some circumstances you will not be able to exchange properties. Reasons your landlord may not give permission for you to exchange include:
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You are living in a property on a short term tenancy or licence e.g. temporary accommodation or accommodation occupied on a Starter or Introductory Tenancy.
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Legal action is being taken against either tenant because of rent arrears or other breaches of tenancy conditions, eg you have been served with a Notice of Seeking Possession.
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Where the accommodation has been provided under a S106 Housing Scheme (this is where properties can only be allocated to applicants with a direct local connection to the parish) and the incoming tenant does not qualify.
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The exchange would lead to overcrowding/underoccupation of one of the landlord’s properties.
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The property is unsuitable for your household e.g. you are not eligible for the property you wish to move to e.g. retirement housing or the property has been adapted to meet applicants specific needs requirements
Why might permission to exchange be delayed?
In some circumstances permission to exchange may be delayed until certain things with your tenancy are rectified. Reasons why this might happen include:
- Your property is in poor condition - you may be able to continue with the exchange once you have remedied the required works to the landlord’s satisfaction.
- There have been unauthorised works or alterations done on the property which may need to be put right before an exchange can continue.
- You have rent arrears on your tenancy but no court order or notice seeking possession is in place - you may be able to continue with the exchange once the arrears have been cleared in full.
There may be other reasons your landlord may refuse you permission to exchange. For more information, please contact your landlord directly.
If you would like anymore information about the Bedfordshire Homefinder Mutual Exchange service, please contact one of the Bedfordshire Homefinder landlords. Their contact details are listed on the contact us page of this website.
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