Mutual Exchange
At IDS, we understand that life changes and sometimes you might need a home that better suits your needs. Our Mutual Exchange service allows you to swap homes with another resident, offering a flexible way to find a new home. We are here to guide you through the process and make it as easy as possible.
Who Can Swap Homes?
You can apply for a mutual exchange if you:
- Have a secure, assured, or fixed-term tenancy with us or another housing provider.
- Live in a property owned or managed by us, or another council or housing association.
- If you’re on a starter tenancy, you’ll need to wait until your tenancy becomes secure or assured before you can exchange.
How it works – Step-by-step
Find Your Match:
You can search for someone to swap with, and we will make it easier by giving you free access to an online mutual exchange system.
Apply for Approval:
Once you’ve found a match, both you and the other resident need to complete an application form for our approval.
Wait for our Decision:
We’ll review your application and get back to you with a decision within 42 days.
What happens before you move?
Home Checks:
We will inspect your property (and your swop partner’s if they are an IDS resident) to make sure everything is in good shape. If any repairs are your responsibility, you will need to take care of them before the swap.
Rent Arrears:
If you owe rent, we will work with you to get it cleared. In exceptional circumstances, we may allow the exchange if you agree to a repayment plan.
Our aim is to make sure everything is in order so you can move without any worries.
When might we say no?
We aim to say yes whenever possible, but sometimes there are reasons why we may refuse an exchange. These include:
Unpaid Rent:
If you have rent arrears and haven’t arranged to pay it off.
Home Size:
If the home you want to move to is too big or too small for your needs.
Broken Tenancy Agreements:
If there have been breaches of the tenancy agreement, like property damage.
Serious Anti-Social Behaviour:
If you or anyone in your household has been involved in serious anti-social behaviour.
We will always explain why if we can’t approve your exchange, and we are happy to discuss any concerns.
Need to Appeal?
If your application is refused, you have the right to appeal. Here’s what you need to do:
- Let us know by writing or calling within 5 working days of our decision.
- A senior team member will review everything and get back to you within 10 working days.
If you are still not satisfied, you can make a final appeal to our Director of Operations, who will take another look and respond to you in writing.
We are here to help
We know that moving can feel overwhelming, but we are here to support you every step of the way. If you have any questions or need help with your mutual exchange, please reach out to our housing team.
Contact us
If you have any concerns or questions about a Mutual Exchange, please contact us. We are here to help.