Mutual Exchanges

We want you to live in a home that is comfortable and right for you. It may be that you would like to move to a different area, or to a different-sized home, and you can do this by swapping with someone else.

Eastlight resident looking out onto a field
  • Front of Eastlight owned houses

    What is a mutual exchange?

    A mutual exchange is when you swap your home with another social housing resident. 

    You can move anywhere in the country without the need to go through the usual housing waiting list or letting system. 

    A mutual exchange is a good way for you to complete a move, as it doesn’t require you to apply for housing or depend on your priority need to move. 

    Please read the information below, and, if you meet the criteria, apply for mutual exchange using the form below when you are ready.

  • A couple smile while unpacking boxes in their new home

    You will not be able to do a mutual exchange if:

    • The home you wish to move to is too big or too small for you, according to our guidelines
    • There are court orders against you or other residents of your home
    • Your home has been designed or adapted for someone with a disability, and the person you are exchanging with doesn't need these facilities
    • Your home has been built for a specific age group and the person you are exchanging with doesn't fulfil this criteria
    • You are in rent arrears
    • There is a history of antisocial behaviour at your home
    • You are in the first year of your tenancy with Eastlight (you hold a starter tenancy)
  • To apply for a mutual exchange, you must hold a Secure or Assured Tenancy.
  • You must find another social housing tenant who wants to swap their home for yours. This can be another Eastlight resident or a resident of a different council or housing association. 
  • Be prepared to make payment to your new tenancy in advance. You'll also need to have a clear (zero balance) rent account and not owe any other monies to Eastlight when you make your application, and throughout the process.
  • To help you find someone to exchange with, you can register on the free to use mutual exchange site House Exchange, a website where you are able to view homes available from other organisations nationwide.
  • Please remember that if you wish to carry out a mutual exchange, both landlords must first give permission.

1. Filling out the form

When you have found someone to exchange with, all parties in the exchange must complete the Eastlight Mutual Exchange application form below.

2. The decision-making process

After all parties complete the form, a 42-day time frame will begin to reach a decision on the exchange, which is calculated from the date the last application is received. 

Our teams will also carry out checks amongst ourselves (no need to visit your home) which will be completed within seven working days.

3. What happens next

Following this, we'll look to provide a reference, and initial approval will be subject to the results of property checks and a Home MOT being carried out. See more about Home MOTs here.

We will contact you to discuss the findings, sign a property inspection document and send everything to our Housing Management team to be signed off.

In this time, please do not make any arrangements to move before the final sign-off has been granted. 

Any outstanding rent for your current Eastlight home will need to be paid in full. If you are moving into an Eastlight home, you will also be required to pay the first weeks' rent in advance.

4. Completing the exchange

We will schedule an in-person sign up appointment at our Braintree office to complete the exchange. Once the sign-up is completed it will be down to yourself to arrange a suitable time to swap keys for the properties and arrange your move.

Once you have signed all the required paperwork for your exchange it is legally binding, and you are expected to move on the date agreed with your landlord.

  • You can stop the exchange at any point until the deed of assignment has been signed. This is a legal document which states that you are going to swap your home with the other party.  Its really important that you are sure you want to move before you sign any of the legal documents. If you change your mind once the deed of assignment is signed, you’d need to complete another mutual exchange to move back – but this would only be possible if all parties agreed. 
  • You can't offer or accept any incentives (including money) to make the exchange happen.
  • Please fully consider all of the costs involved when moving home; not only utility bills, but also moving costs, new carpets, new rent charges and changes to benefits if the amount of bedrooms increases.
  • If you're moving to a different local authority area, you may wish to check what might happen if you wish to move again in the future.
  • If you're exchanging with someone who has a Fixed Term Tenancy, you should check with that landlord on their policy, as you may not be offered a further tenancy once the Fixed Term Tenancy ends.
  • If you exchange where the tenancy has already completed the right to succession, you will not have the option to do this again in the future.
  • Please be aware that either party can pull out of the exchange at any point up until the tenancy documents are formally signed.
  • Your application may be refused. If this happens and you’re not sure why, please contact us.

If you are interested in moving to a smaller home, you can apply for our Downsizing Assistance Scheme, which may give you a cash reward and the support you need to go through the process. The scheme applies to all residents who would like to downsize; whether the home you are moving to is an Eastlight home or not.

You can apply for the scheme by registering with your local authority to downsize through their housing register. 

How you go about this will depend on where you live. Details can be found here.

The payment you receive for downsizing will differ depending on the size of the home you are giving up.

Payment will be made shortly after your move, and any charges or outstanding rent will be deducted from the amount you receive.  

You are not entitled to a downsizing payment if you are doing so following a succession of a tenancy.

Contact us

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us. We are here for you.

A staff member on the phone

Mutual Exchange Form

Please only fill in this form once you have agreed in principle to carry out an exchange with someone.

We aim to complete all mutual exchanges within two weeks of our checks being carried out and will agree a moving date with you.

We will only proceed to check your eligibility once you have ticked the declaration.

Please list details of everyone in the household who will be moving, starting with yourself as tenant.

Details of current home:

Please tell us:

Please upload image/s of your ID. Photo ID is preferred, in the form of an in-date passport or full driver’s licence (back and front). If you don't have either, or if you have a provisional driver’s licence, please also upload a photo of your birth certificate and a utility bill or bank statement dated in the last three months, showing your name and address. We'll need to verify your ID, and anyone else over the age of 18. We'll explain more when we contact you.

Important

Please be aware that, by exchanging homes, you may lose your 'Right to Buy', and the conditions of your new tenancy may change. Please seek advice from your proposed new landlord. When you come to complete your exchange, all parties will be required to sign a legal document which must be witnessed by us before the exchange can go ahead. We will confirm what is happening at each stage. Please note that we will only proceed to check your eligibility once you have ticked the declaration. When you come to complete your exchange, all parties will require a witness to digitally sign a legal document for it to go ahead. The witness needs to have access to an email address and should not be related to you or any other party involved. Please think about who this is going to be, to avoid delays in your mutual exchange. We will contact you for these details at the property inspection stage.

Please be aware by exchanging properties you may lose your 'Right to Buy' and the conditions of your new tenancy may change. Please seek advice from your proposed new landlord. When you come to complete your exchange, all parties will require a witness to digitally sign a legal document to allow the exchange to go ahead. The witness needs to have access to an email address and should not be related to you or any other party involved. Please think about who this is going to be as to avoid delays in your mutual exchange. We will contact you for these details at the property inspection stage. In addition, please note that we will only proceed to check your eligibility once you have ticked the declaration.