Mutual exchange - what is it?

When you exchange your home with another tenant, you're agreeing to take on the responsibilities of that new home. This will mean that you're accepting a different tenancy agreement with the possibility of different clauses. You should also consider:

• Bills and expenses - rent, service charges, council tax and other outgoings will likely be different. Travel costs to work, local amenities and even the heating system in your new home could be more expensive. 
• Your responsibilities could change.
• There may be differences in the succession arrangements of the new home. This means that you may not be able to pass on the tenancy to family members like you could in your current home.
• Property condition - we'll inspect our property, but you should ensure yourself that it is suitable for your needs. If there are any repairs, they may be your responsibility. 

You need to be sure about a property. After all, it could potentially be your new home. Make as many appointments as you need, including on weekends and evenings. 

Before you visit a property, make a checklist of all priorities and the things that you want to find out. Some examples could be:

• How much is the rent?
• What sort of tenancy will I be offered?
• Would I be able to buy the property from the Council or Housing Association?
• What are the local schools like?
• Is there allocated parking, and if not, is it easy to park?
• Are transport links good?
• How far is the nearest station or bus stop?
• What are the neighbours like?
• Is there a garden? What size is it? Is it private or shared?
• Where are the nearest shops and other amenities? 
• What kind of heating does it have, and does it suit me?
• Does it need decorating?
• When would the current residents move out?
• What items do the current residents plan to take with them?
• What will my new landlord be like?

Useful websites to learn about local areas:

• Google Maps
• Find your postcode and get information on your local area (streetcheck.co.uk)

Contact Peaks & Plains for an application form, or head over to our webpage to download and print.

All exchanging parties will need to complete a Peaks & Plains application form, regardless of whether they are a tenant with us or not. If you find an exchange with a tenant of another landlord, they need to apply for permission from their own landlord too.

Once the application is received, we will:

• Arrange to visit your home and carry out a property inspection.
• We will also need to carry out a gas safety and electrical check.
• You must ensure that your home is in a clean and tidy condition, and is accessible for staff to visit. 
• Any arrears on accounts need to be settled - talk to us about how you can do this.
• We will let you know of any repairs that you will need to complete before the exchange can go ahead. 
• If the incoming tenant is from another landlord, we will write to their landlord to request a reference.
• If the exchange is approved, we will write to you to confirm this. We will also give you an appointment to sign the relevant paperwork.
• You should then contact your exchange partner to agree a date that you would like to move.
• You must not move before the paperwork has been signed, or this could result in the exchange being refused. 

You should not assume that we will take responsibility for carrying out any work, unless you have it in writing from us.

If you require further information, you can contact us on 0800 012 1311, or email us at trust@peaksplains.org.

The advantages of a mutual exchange are:

• You can exchange with another tenant inside or outside of the district.
• You can exchange with another Housing Association tenant. 
• You may avoid a lengthy wait to transfer.
• You can thoroughly inspect the property and be sure it is suitable for your family.

The disadvantages of a mutual exchange are:

• You have to accept the property in its present condition.
• The other party can back out at any time, right up until you move.
• You will have to accept responsibility for alterations.

No. You will need to arrange to pay for your own removal expenses. 

When you first register with Homeswapper, you'll need to answer some questions about your home and the home you want. This creates your home advert, and also lets you see homes you like. 

Make sure all of the details within the advert are correct. 

Provide as much information about your property as you can. Think about all the positive points - the size of the property, the features it has and what you like about it. 

Add photos of your home to your advert. 

Make sure your rent account is up to date.

The Trust and many other social landlords will ask you to make an upfront payment of rent. The exact amount will depend on the rent being charged in your new home and how you pay.

If you get Housing Benefit or Universal Credit to help with your rent, you'll still need to pay. Please contact us if you want some advice on what you might need to pay. 

We will need to see original documents to verify your identity. This could be a passport or a resident's permit. 

Think about how you'll pay for removals, reconnecting your phone, broadband or gas cooker.

Who will do your removals?

Speak to the other person about how much household bills are so you can be sure the new home is affordable. 

Make sure the area is going to be right for you. 

Look at public transport option for getting about.

Do you need to be close to local shops? Do you need to be close to health services? If so, you need to take all of these things into account.