Woking Borough Council
Civic OfficesGloucester SquareWokingSurreyGU21 6YL
Telephone: 01483 755855
Mutual exchange
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The following information provides details to questions frequently asked about mutual exchanges.
What is mutual exchange?
Mutual exchange is the exchange of your home with another council tenant or housing association tenant, either within Woking or nationwide.
Who is eligible?
You can make an application to exchange your home if:
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you are a secure tenant
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your rent account is clear
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there are no Court Orders or Notices against you, and
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you have not broken your tenancy agreement at your present home.
What type of property can I look for?
The home you wish to move into must be suitable for your needs though you would be allowed one additional bedroom.
For example, a single person would not be able to swap their one-bedroom flat for a three-bedroom house, but would be able to swap for a two-bedroom flat or house.
If the property you wish to move into has been adapted for a disabled person you will not be able to move in unless you, or someone who will be moving in with you, needs these adaptations.
How do I apply?
You should complete a Hometrak form and tick the box to say you wish to be eligible to apply for a mutual exchange.
Your details will then be added to our computer system. You can look up the mutual exchange list at the Civic Offices reception area to find someone you would like to exchange with.
What happens next?
Once you have found a suitable exchange partner, you should visit each other's home to make sure you are happy with your choice. For your own safety, make sure a friend or relative is with you when you visit or when your exchange partner visits you.
If you agree to make an exchange, you accept their home in the condition you see it in. For example, if they have removed doors you will be responsible for replacing them, or if they have put in their own electrical fittings we would only replace unsafe fittings with standard Council ones.
If you are happy with your choice of home, please contact your Housing Officer who will advise you on what to do next. Your Housing Officer will come out to visit youl to inspect your home and make a report on its condition. You must sign this report to say it is a true record of the condition of your house. We will carry out any repairs that are our responsibility. You will be asked to do those that are your responsibility and the Housing Officer will call again to see if you have completed them before we agree to the exchange.
You will also have to sign a report on the condition of the property you wish to move into to say that you accept the property in its current condition. It is important, therefore, that you inspect the property thoroughly.
The Council will write to you within 42 days of receipt of your application to let you know if your application has been accepted. Acceptance can be conditional, e.g. on paying any outstanding rent arrears or repairing damage to your home.
If the exchange has been refused you will be given an explanation.
What else should I know?
If you agree to an exchange, you will become responsible for the decorations and any damage to fixtures and fittings at the new address. The Council will not repair any such damage, even after you have moved in.
You will be liable for the general cleanliness of the property and you will have to arrange for the removal of household pests.
If you would like to be removed from the mutual exchange register, please contact Housing Needs or Tenant and Leaseholder Services.
Other sources of help
Homeswapper is a national mutual exchange service, free to Woking Borough Council tenants, which could help you find a property to swap with anywhere in the country. Woking Borough Council has become a landlord partner which allows tenants to register for this service for free.
Contact us
For more information about mutual exchange, please contact Tenant and Leaseholder Services at the Civic Offices, telephone 01483 743829 or email T&L@woking.gov.uk