Slough Borough Council: Mutual exchange (exchanging your home)

Mutual exchange (exchanging your home)

Secure (council) or assured (housing association) tenants have the right to exchange their homes with another council or housing association tenant, with the landlord’s agreement.

For many tenants an exchange can often be a quicker way of moving than applying for a transfer. You can apply to exchange your home by joining HomeSwapper. HomeSwapper is a local and national service to help you find someone to swap your home with. If you are a Slough Borough Council tenant you can register with HomeSwapper free of charge. To register with HomeSwapper, log on to their website. You can also access details of possible exchange partners on a hard copy list which is held at MyCouncil, Landmark Place.

Once you have found someone to swap your home with, please follow the steps below:

Step 1

Arrange to visit each other’s homes.

Step 2

When you have made the decision to swap home, you will then have to contact People 1st Slough on 01753 475111, option 3, for a mutual exchange application form. You can also download the application form found below.

Step 3

You need written approval before you can exchange and you will be given a decision within 42 days. Your exchange can be refused for specific reasons such as:

the property is larger than you need
you are already under a court order to give up possession of the property; proceedings for possession have begun or we have served a notice of seeking possession
the accommodation offered does not meet the needs of you and your family

You must never make or accept any payment for an exchange with another tenant.

Step 4

When you exchange your home, you are accepting the property in the general standard of repair and decoration that you see it in. If the tenant you swap with has made any alterations to the property, like replacing the bath with a shower, we will not change the items back for you.