Mutual Exchange

Published: 13 November 2025

A mutual exchange is when you swap your social housing home with someone else who lives in a property owned by a council or housing association. It can be the fastest and easiest way to find a property better suited to your needs if you aren't in urgent need of housing. It means that you won't have to wait for months, or even years, on a housing waiting list.

The benefits of a mutual exchange

It is a great alternative if you don’t want to wait on the housing waiting list. It also:

gives you control of the process
means you can choose a home that suits you
gives more option when deciding where you want to live - either locally or nationally

Eligibility

You will need to be a social housing tenant with a secure or assured tenancy to have the right to a mutual exchange. If you have an introductory or a starter tenancy you won’t be allowed to swap. If you’re not sure, please contact us at BCH to find out what type of tenancy you have and if you’re allowed to swap before you start looking. It’s important to remember that you won’t be able to swap with a private housing tenant – both homes need to be social housing properties.

Exchanging your home through MyHomeChoiceFyldeCoast

You must be a secure tenant or an assured housing association tenant and live in a property owned or managed by one of the current partners on the Fylde coast:

Blackpool Council
Blackpool Coastal Housing
For Housing
Great Places Housing Group
Muir Group Housing Ltd
Places for People
Progress Housing Group
Regenda
Lumen

You must have an active Housing Register application. Once you have fully completed your Housing Register application, you will have the opportunity to add a Mutual Exchange application. When you register, you will need to provide details of your property, such as the area you are living in, the number of bedrooms, the rent etc. Your landlord has to approve these details before your property will be advertised. Once your property is being advertised you will be able to contact other tenants who are interested in moving home.

You will not be able to do an exchange if you are an introductory tenant or have an assured shorthold tenancy. Please check your tenancy agreement to confirm what kind of tenancy you have.

Exchanging your home with someone nationally

If you are looking to move to a new location, you can find available properties using a tenancy exchange website. For example:

These websites are free to register but please be aware that some websites may charge the further you progress with the process.

When you register, you will be asked questions about your home, the kind of home you're looking for and where you want to live.

Showing your interest in a property

If you have found a property you are interested in, you should contact the current tenant using the contact details listed within the advert. If you find something that you are interested in, and they are also interested in the area and property that you are living in, you will need to contact them. You will also need to make arrangements to view each other’s properties to ensure you are happy with the condition of the property.

Paying for a tenancy exchange

It is illegal for you or the other tenant to charge a fee to exchange properties.

Find out more by checking out our Frequently Asked Questions below:

Who can exchange homes?

If you have an assured, secure or fixed-term tenancy you could be allowed to exchange your home with another tenant. The person you swap with must also have an assured, secure or fixed-term tenancy.

When you find a suitable match, we are usually happy to support your move if:

The new home is a suitable size for you and your exchange partner
You don’t have rent arrears you cannot clear
Your property has no adaptations specifically suited for you unless the new tenant has a need for them
There is no legal action being taken against you or your exchange partner
A Notice of Seeking Possession has not been served
The exchange means that either property is not overcrowded or under-occupied
Neither of the properties has a specific letting requirement such as older person’s accommodation
A valid Energy Performance Certificate has been produced for your property; you will need to contact your landlord to arrange this

What happens when I apply?

Once you have found an exchange partner and we’ve received your application, we’ll check if you meet the criteria to proceed with a mutual exchange.

If you are eligible, we’ll arrange for an Officer to visit you and carry out an inspection of your home.

After we’ve completed the inspection, we’ll share this information with your exchange partner. We’ll also let you know of any work that needs to be done by you or us before the exchange can go ahead.

If the person you want to swap homes with is not a BCH tenant, we’ll need to write to their landlord to request a reference as well as forward them a reference for you.

We will make a decision within 42 days of receiving your completed application and we’ll write to you to let you know the outcome.

We know you’ll be eager to move but if you swap homes without permission or after permission has been refused, you will be expected to move back into your original home.

How long will the mutual exchange process take?

What happens to my tenancy agreement if I swap homes?

If you have a different tenancy type to your exchange partner, for example, you are a secure tenant and your exchange partner is an assured tenant, then the exchange can still proceed.

If you have the same tenancy type as your exchange partner, for example, you are both secure tenants, we will ask you both to sign a Deed of Assignment. This means you take on the terms of their tenancy agreement and they take on yours.

Even if you have the same tenancy type as your exchange partner, it’s very likely that the tenancy terms and rent amount will be different. Make sure you understand the terms of the agreement you will have with your new landlord if it isn’t BCH. If you’re moving into a BCH home, we’ll talk you through the key terms of your new tenancy agreement.

Can a request for a mutual exchange be refused?

Yes, a request for mutual exchange can be refused if:

You are on licence or do not hold an assured, assured shorthold or secure tenancy
Either exchange partner is in rent arrears
Either exchange partner has breached their tenancy conditions or if action has been taken to seek possession of either property
Either exchange partner does not pass an inspection
You or a member of your family have a history of anti-social behaviour
The move results in substantial overcrowding or under-occupation
An exchange would result in a property specially designed or adapted for a disabled or elderly person being occupied by someone without similar needs

Can I apply for another exchange at a later date?

What things should I think about when looking to exchange homes?

When you exchange your home with another tenant, remember you will be taking on all the responsibilities of that new home. This will mean that you’re taking on a different tenancy agreement, possibly with different clauses.

You should also consider:

Bills and expenses; rent, service charges, council tax, and any other outgoings are likely to be different. Travel costs to work, local amenities, and even the heating system in your new home could be different, and more expensive.
Your responsibilities could change. For example, some tenants are expected to attend tenancy reviews and some aren’t.
There may be differences in the succession arrangements of the new home, meaning that you may not be able to pass on the tenancy to family members, which you may be able to in your current home.
We’ll inspect your property, but you should be sure that the property you are moving to is suitable for your needs. If there are repairs needed, they may become your responsibility.

Published: 13 November 2025