House Exchange
The House Exchange scheme enables social housing residents to swap homes with other social housing residents.
If you are a tenant of Manchester City Council you are eligible to register for the House Exchange scheme which matches social housing tenants who are interested in swapping homes.
You can register on the House Exchange website and you will receive possible matches by email or text message.
Visit the House Exchange website to find out more www.houseexchange.org.uk
How do I know if I am eligible to swap my home?
This depends on a number of things and you can check this with your Housing Officer.
Some things which may mean you are not eligible can include:
- Still in 12-month probationary period of your introductory tenancy
- The property you wish to exchange with is too big for your housing need or has an adaptation
- There has been legal action taken against you for rent arrears or anti-social behaviour
How do I find someone to swap with?
You can register for free on the House Exchange website. Here you can advertise your home online and match with others looking to exchange. You can find people to swap with right across the UK.
To create your account you will need to enter some details including:
- Name and contact details
- Current address
- Where you want to live (this can be anywhere in the UK)
- You can also add photos and details of your property
What happens once I register?
The information you have entered will come to our team who will then check and verify the information.
If there is anything wrong, or you do not qualify we will email you with the details.
Once we have verified your information you will then be able to look for matches.
What do I do if I find somebody to swap with?
You would need to contact us. Your housing officer will support you through the swap.
You and the person you wish to swap with will complete an application form. You must have the consent of all landlords involved before an exchange can take place.
Some homes may have service charges which you will need to pay for as well as your rent. They pay for things like the maintenance of communal areas, lighting and gardening. You should make sure that you are financially able to cover any service charges as well as the rent payments before proceeding with an exchange.
We must verify that people meet the criteria for the property, that they have the legal status within the UK to rent a property as well as checking that they have not breached their current tenancy agreement.
What happens next?
Once we have done those checks we will arrange to inspect your home and the other landlord will inspect their tenant’s property.
If there is any tenant damage to the property we will you to repair it before the exchange can go ahead.
When will I be able to exchange?
Once all checks have been carried out we will write to you with the final decision within 42 days. If the exchange can go ahead we will liaise with all parties to agree a date for the exchange and signing of the legal documents which much be signed by all parties.
What happens on the day of the exchange?
We will arrange for a gas and electric check of the property and provide all the certification to the incoming tenant. Along with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
You will need to arrange the removal and exchange of keys.
