Mutual Exchange Scheme

Considerations before you apply to exchange
How do I find someone to exchange with?
What happens if I find someone to exchange with?
Oxford City Council Tenants
How do I find out more information?

Secure or assured tenants from Oxford City Council, a housing association or another council are able to exchange homes with another secure or assured tenant.

Considerations before you apply to exchange

Before you can exchange your home you must get the permission of your landlord. They can refuse permission in certain circumstances. The main ones are:

• An eviction notice has been served.
• Either of the homes are too large or small for the households who are involved in the exchange.
• The home has been built or adapted for people with disabilities or is part of a group of special needs accommodation (such as sheltered housing) and you do not need those adaptations.

We expect: 

• your rent account to be clear
• any outstanding repairs are reported to your landlord or carried out by yourself if they are your responsibility

You must visit the home that you want to move to. When you sign the Deed of Assignment you are agreeing to take the property as it is, and maintain any non standard items.

For example, Oxford City Council will not replace bedroom doors if they have been removed by the previous tenant, and you have signed the agreement accepting the house without the doors.

How do I find someone to exchange with?

Oxford City Council and most Housing Associations operating in Oxfordshire have joined HomeSwapper. This is a national scheme for exchanges between tenants across the country. This service is free to Oxford City Council tenants and also tenants of housing associations that have joined the scheme.

HomeSwapper offers many advantages over local exchange lists because it allows tenants to include not only local areas they want to move to, but also areas outside their current district.

To join the scheme or find out more visit the HomeSwapper website.

If you do not have easy access to the internet, contact your landlord or the council. If you are an Oxford City Council tenant your Tenancy Management Officer can help you.

Please note that if your landlord is not yet a subscriber, you can still register but there will be a charge.

If you register at the HomeSwapper website, once your entry on the website has been approved by your landlord, you will be able to access information about tenants within Oxfordshire and the rest of the UK who wish to exchange properties. HomeSwapper will also e-mail or text you at regular intervals with details of suitable exchange partners.

Oxford City Council tenants will only be accepted if the application is made by the tenant of the property and there are no more than 5 weeks rent arrears. We will contact you if your application does not match the information that we currently hold. If you are a Housing Association tenant you should contact your landlord for any terms and conditions.

You can view hard copies of the HomeSwapper register of people in Oxfordshire who would like to exchange properties, and also of people in other parts of the UK wanting to exchange to a property in Oxfordshire, in our receptions at St Aldate's Chambers, Templar's Square and Horspath Road. These registers will be updated once a month.

What happens if I find someone to exchange with?

When you have found an address you think may be suitable you must contact the tenant yourself and discuss the exchange.

You must make sure you view the property as no repairs (other than those which are the landlords responsibility) will be carried out.

When you exchange you take on the same tenancy as the tenant you exchange with (called a deed of assignment). This means that you take on the rights and limitations that go with that tenancy.

Please contact your landlord for advice if you have found a possible exchange.

Once you are satisfied you should inform your landlord and make sure the other person does the same.  If you are an Oxford City Council tenant you can contact your Tenancy Management Officer using the online Mutual Exchange request form or in writing to Tenancy Management Team, Oxford City Council, Horspath Road, Cowley, Oxford, OX4 2RH.

Your landlords will then tell you if they can approve the exchange and complete the paperwork.  It is very important you do not move until this is done.

Oxford City Council will not sanction any mutual exchange where payment between the tenants exchanging happens and we may take legal action.

Oxford City Council Tenants

Oxford City Council tenants should write to their Tenancy Management Officer if they find someone to exchange with. The following information must be included in the letter:

1. Your name, address and phone number.
2. The name and address and phone number of the person you want to exchange with.
3. The name and address of the Landlord for the person you want to exchange with.
4. The date that you would like to move.

Before the exchange goes ahead, the following checks will be made.

• The property has to be an appropriate size and type for you.
• Your home will be inspected for condition. Any repairs needed will have to be completed and paid for (if appropriate) before the move goes ahead. Tenants have to accept the property as it is when they sign the Deed. Gas and Electric checks will be carried out.
• It is important that you check the property you are moving to thoroughly before agreeing to sign the Deed.
• Your Rent Account must be clear or the exchange will not go ahead.

How do I find out more information?

Oxford City Council tenants  - contact us on 01865 335802.

Other Council or Housing Association tenants - contact your Housing Officer.

For more information on the housing options available to you please contact the Housing Needs Team using the contact details in the 'Contact Us' menu at the top of the page.

Page last reviewed 3 May 2012