Mutual Exchange

HomeSwapper

A mutual exchange occurs when two or more tenants of registered social landlords (Housing Associations or Local Authorities) swap homes with the permission of their landlord(s).

HomeSwapper is the UK’s largest and most successful home swap service.  HomeSwapper is free to all tenants of Argyll Community Housing Association and is an easy to use and exciting new way to move home.  Each week thousands of people living in social housing register online and advertise their homes, looking for another tenant who would like to swap.

As a tenant of Argyll Community Housing Association you can swap homes with another tenant using HomeSwapper and best of all it is FREE!  Better still, finding a mutual exchange through HomeSwapper means you won’t have to wait months on a housing transfer list and you will get to choose the home you want for yourself.

HomeSwapper has the UK’s largest database of people looking to swap homes with over 246,000 users across the UK.  In the past 12 months 29,000 households have swapped homes thanks to HomeSwapper.

HomeSwapper uses the details you supply to automatically match you to other tenants who may have a home that you'd like and who would also be interested in your property.  When HomeSwapper finds you a match you will be alerted by SMS text or email.  You can then log onto HomeSwapper, look at the home you have been matched with and if you like the look of it you can arrange to visit it.

Once you have found someone you wish to exchange with and have viewed their home and vice versa, both parties must complete a mutual exchange application form and Home Argyll application form (both available from this website) and return to your local area office.  If the other party has a different landlord to yourself then both parties need to complete mutual exchange application forms from both landlords.

Once both applications have been received we will assess your application to ensure there are no reasons why the exchange cannot go ahead.    We will then carry out a full inspection of your property and you may be required to carry out works to your home before the exchange can proceed.  In general it is the Associations policy to approve mutual exchanges, providing certain criteria are fulfilled.

The Association has 28 days from the date of the receipt of all relevant application forms to agree or refuse an exchange in writing.

When carrying out a mutual exchange you must accept the property you are exchanging to in the condition in which it is in at the date of the exchange.  The Association will not carry out works to your property other than routine repairs and you may be required to accept responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of non standard fixtures and fittings.


Mutual Exchange may affect your terms of Right to Buy and you should seek advice on this from ACHA staff prior to completing an application form found here.

You can use HomeSwapper straight away by logging on to www.HomeSwapper.co.uk or clicking on the HomeSwapper logo at the top of the page and registering to use the service.