Mutual Exchanges
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Tenants who want to swap their Sheffield council home can now advertise and find properties online.
Sheffield Homes has set up the new feature on its Property Shop website (new window)
A mutual exchange is where two or more Sheffield City Council tenants can apply to exchange homes with each other or a Housing Association tenant, if the landlord agrees.
What is a Mutual Exchange?
The 1985 Housing Act (Part 4, Section 92) gives tenants the right under certain circumstances to exchange their homes.
Who can apply?
Secure Sheffield City Council tenants can apply to exchange their home with another Sheffield City Council tenant; or a Housing Association tenant as long as the landlord(s) agree.
How do I find an Exchange in Sheffield?
Tenants that want to exchange their home advertise their property details on the Sheffield Property Shop Website. You can access the Web at your Local Area Office, Local First Point, First Point at Howden House and the Sheffield Property Shop (new window).
How do I advertise the details of my property?
If you would like to advertise your property you will need to print out the Advertising Form attached to the bottom of this page, complete and return it to your Area Housing Office, Local First Point, First Point at Howden House or the Multi Agency Lettings Team, Sheffield Property Shop, 18–20 Union Street, S1 2JP. Forms cannot be returned online because we need a signature.
Your property will be advertised for 6 months on the Sheffield Property Shop website. At the end of this period we will remove your property details from the website. If you wish to continue advertising you must complete and send us another advertising form.
Don’t forget to tell your friends that you want to move; they may know of someone who will want to exchange with you. Many people find a suitable exchange by doing this.
Do I need permission to do an exchange?
Yes. The landlords of all the people involved in the exchange must agree to the exchange before you can move.
Make sure you have seen the property and are happy with it before you apply to exchange – Sheffield Homes will not clear gardens or decorate properties as a result of an exchange. Only repairs covered by the conditions of tenancy will be carried out (if repairs are required, check with the Area Office that they will be done).
To apply for permission to exchange you will need to complete the Application for Mutual Exchange Form attached to the bottom of this page. The other household(s) in the exchange will also need to complete a form.
You must not move home until you have both been and signed the agreement form. If you do move without permission Sheffield Homes can take legal action against you.
What happens next?
Before we agree to the exchange, we need to check that:
- you qualify for the size and type of property you wish to move to
- your rent account is clear and there is not a possession order on your home for either rent arrears or anti social behaviour
- the condition of your home is satisfactory
If there are any problems you will be sent a letter to tell you and explain any steps you can take that might lead Sheffield Homes to reconsider your application.
What type and size of property can I exchange to?
We use the information below to decide whether a property is large enough for a family’s needs.
Property Type - Smallest Household Eligible
- Bedsit - Single Person
- One bedroom property - Single Person
- Two bedroom property - Single Person
- Three bedroom flat/maisonette - Single person with access to a child, couple or two adults sharing
- Three bedroom house - Family with one child, couple or two adults sharing
- Four bedroom flat/maisonette - Family with two children or household of four people
- Four bedroom house - Family with three children or household of five people
- Five bedroom house/maisonette - Family with five children or household of seven people
If a property is adapted or specialized the mutual exchange may be refused.
How long will it take for the checks to be made?
Once we receive your application to exchange your home, it will usually take about 4–6 weeks for us to process your application and to carry out the necessary checks. If there are no problems then we will be able to process your application quicker. If you are applying to exchange with someone who is not a Sheffield City Council tenant it may take longer as we have to make some additional checks with the other landlord. We will process your exchange as quickly as possible, let you know if there are any problems and send you a letter.
Once all the checks have been completed satisfactorily, we will contact you to arrange an appointment to assign your properties to each other.
How do I apply to exchange my property?
If you wish to apply for an exchange please print out and return the Application for Mutual Exchange Form below. Each household involved in the exchange needs to complete all sections of the form and if it is a joint tenancy both tenants need to sign the form. Make sure that all addresses are on the form. Please return all the forms together to your Area Housing Office, Local First Point, First Point at Howden House or the Multi Agency Lettings Team, Sheffield Property Shop, 18–20 Union Street, S1 2JP.
For more infomation call either the South Call Centre on 2053333 or the North Call Centre on 2930000 or look at our Frequently Asked Questions.
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Downloads
Use this form to advertise your property on our Property Shop website (147 KB)
Use this form to apply for a mutual exchange in Sheffield (209 KB)