If you feel unsafe, your area has changed, or you just need to move — mutual exchange lets two social tenants swap homes and keep their secure tenancy. Your legal right under Section 92 of the Housing Act 1985. Sorted explains the process, the services, your rights and the safety checks that protect you.
Two social tenants agree to swap homes. Both keep their existing tenancy type and rights. It's the only way to move home in social housing without losing your secure or assured tenancy.
Section 92 of the Housing Act 1985 gives secure council tenants the legal right to assign their tenancy to another secure tenant by way of exchange. Housing association assured tenants have similar rights under the Housing Act 1988 plus the standard tenancy agreement.
Around 90% of UK social landlords (councils and housing associations) subscribe to HomeSwapper, which means around 250,000 live property listings at any time. It's the main service most tenants use.
Visit homeswapper.co.uk. Check if your landlord subscribes before paying. The official process and permission rules are on GOV.UK — apply to swap homes.
Search "[your area] council swap" or "[your area] mutual exchange" on Facebook — most areas have active groups. These are informal but can find local matches that national sites miss.
Council can only refuse a mutual exchange on the grounds set out in Schedule 3 of the Housing Act 1985. They cannot refuse just because they don't like the swap.
Once you apply for mutual exchange, the council has 42 days to give a decision in writing. If they don't respond within 42 days, the exchange can proceed automatically — you don't need their consent.
The exchange application must be in writing. Use the form your council provides, or write a letter signed by both tenants.
Many tenants want to swap because they no longer feel safe in their area. Don't replace one unsafe situation with another — check the new property and area carefully before agreeing.
Free if your landlord subscribes. Upload good photos of every room. Be honest about size, condition, area. Match alerts will start coming through.
Filter by area, bedrooms, property type. Save listings that match. Don't message in panic mode — keep a shortlist of 3–5 and compare carefully.
Visit the property at least twice (daytime + evening). Walk the streets. Talk to neighbours. Check the property condition fully. Ask the tenant honestly why they're moving.
Once both parties agree, both apply for permission from their respective landlords in writing. Use your council's mutual exchange form, or write a joint letter. Include both tenants' names, current addresses, and the proposed swap addresses.
Each council has 42 days from receipt to respond in writing. If they refuse, they must cite a specific Schedule 3 ground. If they don't respond at all in 42 days, exchange can proceed by default.
If approved, both councils prepare a Deed of Assignment for both parties to sign. Agree a move date — usually both tenants move on the same day or within a few days. Take meter readings. Update council tax + utilities + GP + schools + benefits + post.
After the swap: update DWP / HMRC / Council Tax / electoral register / Royal Mail (paid redirect 6–12 months) / GP / dentist / school / employer / banks / insurance. Most can be updated online via GOV.UK or directly.
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