Home swap can offer tenants a path to more space | Tenant news

People decide to move home for all sorts of reasons, but the need for a different type of home is a popular one.

The opportunity to swap to a more suitable home is often why our tenants register with the House Exchange service, which helps them find a match for a home swap.

House Exchange, which all Habinteg tenants can use, offers a way for social housing tenants to move by swapping homes with another social housing tenant anywhere in the UK.

Perfect swap

One Yarm tenant, Carol Dennis, swapped homes with another tenant on her scheme because their flat was better suited to her needs.

Carol, 65, moved from a ground-floor garden flat to a third-floor home with lift access, within the same building, in November 2023.

“The other tenant I swapped with wanted a garden, so it was a perfect swap,” she said. “I have mobility issues, so I find gardening difficult. I prefer the position of my new flat, I just walk along the corridor and I’m out the main front door. I’m very happy with my new flat.” 

How does it work?

In some parts of the country there are long waiting lists for socially rented homes, due to high demand, resulting in very little or no opportunities to move.

“Some of our tenants register with House Exchange because they want to find a home that better suits them within their local area, others are looking to relocate for work or for family reasons,” said our Lettings Manager, Julie McNaughton.

“Instead of waiting to be offered a home through the normal waiting lists, you can find one yourself through Home Exchange.”

Tenants register their interest on the House Exchange website and search for other tenants that also want to swap.

Once you’ve registered with House Exchange, and your application and the advert for your home has been approved, the system will show you a list of possible matches. 

As House Exchange is a mutual home exchange service, both tenants hoping to swap homes must agree to the arrangement. You must also have your landlord’s written permission to exchange homes.

Tips for a successful exchange

To give your home a better chance of attracting interest on the website, make sure your advert is appealing.

Remember, you’re competing with other people, so try and make your property look as good as possible before you take your photographs. Here are four tips to consider:

• Take clear snaps of your rooms and any outside spaces you might have,
• Write clear and accurate descriptions of your property,
• Include information about its best features such as a sunny sitting room or a recently decorated bathroom,
• Write about how close your home is to useful transports links, local schools, and parks.

If you would like to look into the possibility of a home swap, please speak to your Neighbourhood Team or call our Customer Services Team on 0300 365 3100.