Mutual exchange

Mutual exchange
You can find all our information
leaflets on our website
www.dchgroup.com
Guide to exchanging properties
In partnership with
Can we help?
Contact the neighbourhood team:
0800 123 8080
[email protected]
Exeter office
72 Paris Street,
Exeter EX1 2JZ
Plymouth office
2 Ker Street, Devonport,
Plymouth PL1 4GE
Totnes office
8 St Peters Quay,
Totnes TQ9 5SH
Penzance office
67 Morrab Road,
Penzance TR18 2QJ
Tavistock office
The Quay, Plymouth Road,
Tavistock PL19 8AB
Truro office
Kenwyn Street,
Truro TR1 3BA
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Customer
checked
Mutual exchange
A guide to exchanging properties
Most adverts on
Homeswapper will contain
pictures and information about
the property size and local
facilities. However there are a
number of things to consider
when finding a property to
exchange into:
A mutual exchange allows two or more social
housing residents who hold tenancies to
agree to swap properties. Landlord approval
is required for a swap to take place.
XXdoes
How do you find someone to
exchange with?
What should you do when you have
found someone to swap with?
We have signed up to Homeswapper, the UK’s
largest online database for social housing
residents wanting to swap homes.
There are some set stages that must be
followed in a mutual exchange. DCH requires
that an application form is completed for
each tenancy. We will carry out an affordability
assessment to make sure that the rent is
affordable to any resident affected by underoccupation or the benefit cap.
XXthis
service is free for our residents to use
XXyou
can register at
www.homeswapper.co.uk
will need a current working email address
or phone number to register
XXyou
We may also carry out a property inspection
to check:
XXif
XXapplication
you do not have access to a computer
please visit your local DCH office.
What to check in the property you want
to exchange into
details
XXrepair
responsibilities – ours or resident’s and
timeframes for work to be completed
XXresident
alterations – if there have been any
resident alterations that have not had our
consent the existing resident must put the
property back to the original condition
XXany
furniture / fixtures / fittings / items that are
being left in the property – e.g. carpets,
curtains, wardrobes etc. The incoming
resident will need to sign a property
acceptance form to accept responsibility
for these items.
We will exchange references with landlords
whose tenants are involved. We will advise
you whether we can give permission for the
exchange within six weeks of receiving the
completed application forms from you.
‘If agreed, we will ask you when you would like
to move.
the property meet
your needs? Is the property the right size, how
close is it to shops, schools, doctors’ surgeries
and public transport? Is there enough parking?
Can you have pets?
XXwhat
will the running costs of the property be?
Contact the energy supplier and the water
board to find out their estimated costs for your
household, find out from the local authority what
the council tax costs are
XXmake
sure you view the property to check it is
in good condition; we recommend you do this
more than once.
Why would permission to exchange
be refused?
You must not make any arrangements to move
before you receive written permission from all
landlords involved in the exchange.
The main reasons for refusing the exchange are:
XXbeing
a starter tenant– you cannot move until
you have successfully completed the starter
period of your tenancy. This is usually 12 months
XXbeing
subject to a court order - this can include
an outright, postponed or suspended possession
order, a demotion order or a current anti-social
behaviour injunction
XXthe
property is too large or small – we
will not allow families to overcrowd as a
result of a mutual exchange. We will allow
residents to under occupy properties by
one bedroom, providing they can pass the
affordability assessment
XXfailure
of the affordability test
XXnot
qualifying for the property – residents
exchanging to properties with disabled
adaptations or sheltered housing schemes
must require the adaptations and meet the
qualification criteria.
Conditional consent
We may give consent for the exchange to take
place subject to some conditions being met.
Usually the conditions would need to be met within
four weeks and we will confirm the details of these
conditions in writing. Conditions can include:
XXclearing
rent arrears
XXclearing
other debts e.g. recharges or court fees
XXcompleting
repairs.
If the conditions are not met within the timescale
agreed, permission will be withdrawn and the
exchange will be refused. Residents can re-apply
when the conditions have been met.
What type of tenancy will you be
offered?
We offer two types of tenancy:
XXfixed
term tenancies – a new tenancy will be
offered with the same end date as their existing
fixed term
XXassured
tenancies – will be offered to those
residents who currently hold an assured tenancy
or a secure tenancy. Existing DCH residents will
retain their preserved right to buy for as long as
they remain a resident of DCH.
Alternatively, residents who are not currently on a
fixed term tenancy can opt to take on the tenancy
from the existing resident:
XXany
tenancy changes that have previously been
made to that tenancy will be inherited
XXin
some cases the right to succeed to a tenancy
has already been granted and therefore you will
not have statutory succession rights.
Which of your rights and
responsibilities as a resident may
be affected?
We will not be liable for any costs involved
in the exchange other than compulsory
gas and electric safety checks* and
required administration.
Once you have moved you become
responsible for the condition of the property
you have moved into. This means that you
will need to complete any outstanding
tenant repairs.
We will only carry out repairs that are routine,
planned or as a result of fair wear and tear.
* We reserve the right to charge for gas and
electrical safety checks, we will generally
apply this when a resident exchanges more
than once in a 12 month period.
You become responsible for:
XXitems
that are left behind e.g. rubbish
and furniture by the former resident
XXdecoration
of the property.
What do you do once consent has
been given?
We will agree a date with the residents and
other landlords involved in the exchange
and arrange a place to meet to sign the
paperwork. This will generally be at one of our
offices or properties. Once the paperwork has
been signed you may move.
Before moving we recommend that you:
XXarrange
for qualified people to remove
your appliances
XXarrange
a time to swap keys
XXfind
out who the utility companies are for
the property you are moving into
XXlet
people know you are moving.
New residents moving into our
properties
Gas and electrical safety checks will be carried
out in the property before you move in.
Once the exchange has taken place we will
contact you within six weeks of moving to make
sure you have settled in.