Mutual Exchange

If you rent a home from a Housing Association (Housing Provider) or Local Authority and wanted to move, you could consider a Mutual Exchange.

A Mutual Exchange allows tenants (from a Housing Association or Local Authority) to ‘swap’ their home with another tenant who lives in a similar property.

If you want to ‘swap’ your home, you must contact your Landlord and ask them if they are happy for you to do this.

The Council provides a list of properties offered for exchange in the District (at our Council Offices, South Street, Rochford and the Civic Suite in Rayleigh); where you can view available homes and add your details to it. Your Landlord may also provide details of available properties and help advertise your home. Alternatively, you can advertise your property on specialist Mutual Exchange websites and locally, such as shop notice boards.

Once you have found a suitable property/tenant (to exchange with), you must contact your Landlord again and provide them with details of all the parties involved. If your Landlord grants you permission, they will start the exchange process with the other Landlord.

Please note that this process can take a long time and you should only move when you have written confirmation of the Mutual Exchange from your Landlord (and an agreed exchange date).

For further information, please contact your Landlord.