Swap your home

Mutual Exchange

A mutual exchange is where two tenants agree to swap their properties. It can often be quicker than waiting for a housing transfer through the normal waiting list. Any of the following tenants may swap their home with each other:

• Any Scottish Secure Tenant of a Scottish local authority of housing association
• A tenant of any other local authority, registered social landlord or housing association in the United Kingdom
• A Water Authority tenant in Scotland

If you find another tenant to swap with, you must get permission from both landlords before you move. If you move without permission you could lose your home.

Finding a property

You can find a property to exchange with online using House Exchange, following these steps:

1. Register with House Exchange and create an advert for your property. This is free for Midlothian Council tenants. The Introduction to House Exchange guide contains tips on creating a great advert.
2. After you have registered use the property search to find properties listed by other tenants. The website will help you to search, find matches and contact other council or housing association residents who want to swap their homes.
3. Arrange to view each other’s houses.

You can get free internet access at your local library

You can also find a suitable exchange by word of mouth, through friends or family.

Applying for an exchange

If you wish to go ahead with the exchange, you must first apply for permission from both landlords. Each tenant involved in the exchange must apply to both their own landlord, and the landlord of the other person.

If you are a Midlothian Council tenant, or applying to exchange with a Midlothian Council tenant you can apply in the following ways:

• Complete the online mutual exchange application
• Or download and print a mutual exchange application form. Return your completed form to Housing Services, Midlothian Council, Midlothian House, 40-46 Buccleuch Street, Dalkeith, EH22 1DN. Application forms are also available from this address.

After you apply for an exchange, you must not carry out any more alterations or improvements to the property, or remove any fixtures and fittings until we have inspected the properties involved.

Once all tenants involved in the exchange have applied, we aim to complete the process within 28 days.

To enquire about a mutual exchange, email Housing Services at housing.enquiries@midlothian.gov.uk.

Conditions for applying for a mutual exchange

For us to approve a mutual exchange, it must meet these conditions:

• Both properties must be of a suitable size for the households involved in the swap, as defined by our Housing Allocation Policy. The property must also meet any other housing needs for that household.
• You must not have any rent arrears or other debt associated with your current or any former tenancy.
• Your property, including any garden, must be of a standard acceptable to Midlothian Council.
• We will check with our Community Safety partners about any current or previous instances of antisocial behaviour by anyone involved in the exchange.
• To exchange with a tenant of another local authority or housing association, you also must follow their policies and procedures for mutual exchanges.
• If the exchange is approved, both households must move into the other property, and must occupy the tenancy for no less than six months from the date of the exchange, unless both households ask to return to their original homes. Both landlords must also agree to this.