Stockport Homes

See the following information regarding some frequently asked questions regarding Homechoice

Mutual Exchange – can I encourage a Mutual exchange by paying someone?

No, it is illegal to offer cash incentives in return for a social housing property exchange and it could result in you and your family being evicted from your property.

Mutual Exchange applicants are required to read and agree to the Homechoice system Privacy Policy prior to completion and submission of the online application form.

Section 2.5 of the Privacy Policy makes it clear that ‘Stockport Homes may pass on your personal data to third parties for the purposes of detecting or preventing fraud or other crime’ (see below):

 

 

Mutual Exchange – what can I do if I can’t find a direct swap with another tenant?

From the Homechoice website home-page, go to ‘Information’ - ‘Mutual Exchanges’ – ‘How do I find a 3-way multi-swap exchange?’ – click the link to open the step by step guidance ‘How to search for a 3-way swap’ (see below):

         

Social Housing – Bidding

If you have a cat or dog that will be moving with you, please check that the property advert states pets allowed before placing your bid.

Social Housing - Communication

All emails, letters and messages relating to your social housing application are issued directly to your Homechoice account (not direct to your personal email account). These include important information in relation to: Annual Renewals, Bidding points, Documentation requests and more. Therefore, it’s important that you login to your Homechoice account on a regular (weekly) basis to check the ‘My Communications’ section of your homepage (please see below):

                              

 

Social Housing – Medical points assessments

From the Homechoice website home-page, go to ‘Information’ – ‘Medical Assessments’ to view a video guide and Frequently asked Questions (see below):

 

 

 

Application Support – How can I request support to complete my Social Housing or Mutual Exchange application?

A range of support is available to Homechoice customers who need help to complete an online application. This includes Interpreter appointments, telephone appointments and ‘drop-in’ services:

Tel: 0161 217 6016 (option 2) Mon to Fri, 8.30am to 5pm

Email: homechoice@stockporthomes.org

Drop-In: To Cornerstone reception, Mon to Fri, 9am to 4pm to speak to an Advisor

Rightsizing / Downsizing - I am a Stockport Homes Tenant living in a family sized property (3 or 4 bedroom) and I want to move to a 1-bedroom property

The Stockport Homes Rightsizing service helps current tenants living in large family-sized homes to move to a more manageable and affordable home.

We know that many of our customers are experiencing issues linked to disability/adaptation needs and the rising cost-of-living (e.g. heating and utility bills).

If you feel that now is the right time to look at moving to a smaller property, we are here to support you so please get in touch:

Email: rightsizing@stockporthomes.org

Tel: 0161 217 6016

📅  Tuesday, 2nd September 2025
🕑  2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 Victoria Park, Offerton

Homechoice and Mutual Exchange Officers will be available to advise on:

• How to register for a Homechoice account
• How to apply for a Mutual Exchange
• Advertising your property - advice/tips on how to ‘sell’ the benefits of your current property
• Found a property swap? Find out more about next steps
• How to apply for Social Housing
• How to place a bid for social housing
• What are your chances of getting a property?
• How does the medical assessment process work?

If you’re unable to attend and want to find out more, please email: homechoice@stockporthomes.org or call: 0161 217 6016 (option 2) to speak to an Advisor

REGISTER FOR HOMECHOICE

You can Register for a Homechoice account here: https://www.homechoicestockport.org/HouseholdRegistrationForm

You will need your National Insurance Number, a Memorable Date and full 6-year address history.

When entering previous addresses, please ensure that the ‘move out’ date corresponds with the ‘move in’ date.

When your registration is complete, you will be allocated a unique Homechoice Reference Number.

Please make a note of your Reference Number, National Insurance Number, and Memorable Date as you will need these to log in to your Homechoice account in the future.

 

HOMECHOICE – SOCIAL HOUSING

Once your Registration is complete, you will see an option to apply for social housing on your homepage. Please select and complete all sections of the online application form.

If you see an asterix * next to any of the questions on the application form, this means an answer is mandatory and the system will not allow you to continue until the question is completed or an option selected.

To tell us about any disabilities, health conditions or other medical needs of any member(s) of your household, please select the following statement in the Housing Need section of the form:

I, or a member of my household, have a long-term illness or disability which is being caused or impacted by where we live now

If you would like to tell us more about your current housing circumstances, please use the free text field in the Housing Need section.

Toward the end of the online form, the system will alert you to upload documents to evidence: your current address, possession order (private rent), medical circumstances, Child Benefit status etc. Please note that you will be unable to submit the form for processing until/unless these are uploaded.

Please don’t forget to submit the application form when completed to ensure your application is processed within 10-working days.

If you have any questions or require support to complete the form:

Tel: 0161 217 6016 (option 2)

Email: homechoice@stockporthomes.org

or

Drop in to reception at the Cornerstone building Mon to Thurs from 9.30am to 3pm to speak to an Advisor

HOMECHOICE – MUTUAL EXCHANGE

Once your Registration is complete, you will see an option to apply for Mutual Exchange on your homepage. Please select and complete all sections of the online application form.

You can apply for Mutual Exchange via Stockport Homechoice if you are:

• A current SHG/SMBC tenant with an SK1 to SK8 area postcode
• A current Housing Association tenant with an SK1 to SK8 area postcode

Please ensure you have registered details for all members of your household before completing a Mutual Exchange application form.

Please complete the Marketing Information section of the form to advertise the benefits of your current property.

You will be given the option to upload photographs/videos of your current property. However, these will be checked and verified for suitability during processing. Therefore, please ensure:

• Door numbers are not visible
• Children are not visible
• Personal identifiers are not visible e.g. letters; family photos in the background etc

Any media uploaded which is deemed unsuitable will be deleted from the application.

Please tell us about any adaptations to your current property and/or any adaptation requirements for any member(s) of your household in the free text field ‘Relationship to you and Date of Births of any further Household members that will be moving with you’

Please complete the Mutual Exchange application form and submit for processing (within 10 working days)

If you live outside the SK1 to SK8 postcode area and would like to Mutually Exchange with a SHG or HA tenant living the SK1 to SK8 postcode area, please contact: 0161 2187 6016 (option 2) or email homechoice@stockporthomes.org

For other Mutual Exchange options, please contact your landlord or see the National House Exchange website: https://www.houseexchange.org.uk/

Stockport Homes tenants can register for free with https://www.houseexchange.org.uk/ if they are looking to move outside of Stockport. 

Once your application has been processed and activated, you will be able to search for suitable match properties and communicate with other registered tenants: property search page

If/when you have viewed and agreed a property match with another tenant, both tenants will need to request the swap via the Homechoice account. This will initiate the legal process for approval which will be confirmed via a Homechoice portal message.

Please note: Mutual Exchange is a legal process and property exchanges are not permitted without written approval from your landlord

If you have any questions or require support to complete the form:

Tel: 0161 217 6016 (option 2)

Email: homechoice@stockporthomes.org

or

Drop in to reception at the Cornerstone building Tues or Thurs from 9.30am to 3pm to speak to an Advisor

The next Mutual Exchange information event will be held:

📅  Tuesday, 2nd September 2025
🕑  2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
📍 Victoria Park, Offerton

RIGHTSIZING SERVICE 

• Are you a Stockport Homes tenant who is under-occupying a 3 or 4 bed property? 

• Do you want to downsize to a 1-bed property to better suit your changing needs? 

If so, the Rightsizing service can help! 

Since April 2023, the service has supported successful moves for more than 48 tenants who told us:

• ‘Thank-you for my beautiful new home’ 

• ‘[I received] help moving heavy items’ 

• ‘Not as much to pay in electricity & gas, easier to keep warm’ 

• ‘Less stress with bills so hopefully better quality of life’ 

• ‘I was having trouble with the stairs and being on one level has helped me immensely’

• ‘I was getting into a worrying state of depression and the Rightsizing team made the transition to my new home possible’

• ‘Moved to a beautiful 1 bed property in an area I feel safe in’
• ‘I can’t praise the team enough they were with me every step of the way’

For more information or an informal chat, please contact the Rightsizing team on: 0161 217 6016 (option 2)  or email: rightsizing@stockporthomes.org  

 

Are you currently Living in a 3 or 4 bedroomed Stockport Homes Property or want to move to a 1 bedroom property? If so our rightsizing service may be for you 

We know that moving home can be a huge decision and we can offer you intensive coordinated support throughout the process.  
For an informal chat with Daisy or Ffion (Rightsizing Officers) please contact: rightsizing@stockporthomes.org or 0161 217 6016 (option 2)