Mutual exchanges
Who can apply for a mutual exchange?
How do I apply for a mutual exchange?
Can I encourage a Mutual exchange by paying another tenant to swap with me?
How do I find a 3-way multi-swap exchange?
How do I advertise my property for Mutual Exchange?
What is a mutual exchange?
A mutual exchange is where you swap your home with another council, Stockport Homes or housing association tenant.
You take over the other person’s tenancy, under the same terms and conditions, and they take over yours.
Who can apply for a mutual exchange?
Any Council or Housing Association tenant with a secure or assured tenancy, residing in the Stockport borough, can apply for a Mutual Exchange. Check your postcode here: https://zestate.co.uk/district/Stockport-postcodes/E08000007/?page=13
If you live in sheltered housing or a home specially adapted to meet the needs of a disabled person, there may be restrictions on who can swap with you.
If you are a tenant residing outside the Stockport borough and would like to search for a Mutual Exchange, the National House Exchange service can help: https://www.houseexchange.org.uk/
Can I encourage a Mutual exchange by paying another tenant to swap with me?
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’.
How do I apply for a mutual exchange?
You will need to complete a mutual exchange application form (under My Account).
When applying please ensure that you:
- include details of all household members on the application form; and
- complete your current landlord details on the application form in full.
Click on the image below to view the 'Guide to completing a mutual exchange' video and see the link to the written guide below.
Guide to completing a mutual exchange application
How do I find an exchange?
Once you have completed a mutual exchange application form you can search for a possible exchange by going to the property search page and selecting ‘mutual exchange property’, along with the property type and number of bedrooms you are looking for.
Stockport Homes tenants can also register for free with house exchange which is especially good if you are looking to move outside of Stockport.
How do I find a 3-way multi-swap exchange?
Mutual Exchange applicants who are struggling to find a direct (2-way swap) can use the following guidance to search for a 3-way swap:
When all 3 tenants have viewed the relevant properties and confirmed they would like to swap, all three need to register and complete/submit the Mutual Exchange application form via the Homechoice website (if not already completed). Once these actions are completed, the lead tenant (the tenant who instigated the 3-way swap search) should contact the Mutual Exchange team at: mutualexchange@stockporthomes.org to confirm the name, address and login reference numbers for all three tenants.
How do I advertise my property for Mutual Exchange?
The Homechoice website automatically matches you to other properties based on your listed requirements (property types, number of bedrooms, and areas). These can be found in your ‘good’ and ‘perfect’ matches. When you click on either of these options, you are taken to a list of recommended property advertisements. To make your property advertisement stand out for other applicants looking at their match lists, you can customise it with photographs (by clicking ‘Upload photo’) and a description (under the ‘Marketing Information’ section of the Mutual Exchange application form). Mutual Exchange applicants wanting to maximise interest using their property advertisement should view the following guidance