What is an Exchange?

A mutual exchange enables tenants to move, by swapping their property with another tenant through an "assignment of tenancy". This allows a move to take place without the need to go through the Association's housing waiting list / allocations system.

You will need to find a tenant who you wish to swap with. You can do this by joining our register which allows us to place details in our exchange register (located at our office and on our website) or you could advertise in the local newspaper or newsagent. Anywhere in fact, so long as you can attract a tenant who may be interested in swapping with you.

For more information about how exchanges work and to add your details to our register, please read our Mutual Exchange Leaflet.

Mutual Exchange Leaflet and Form

The Mutual Exchange Register

To see a list of properties we currently have registered for exchange, use the tool provided below;

If you see a property that you are interested in please contact the tenant to arrange to view the property. Viewings are strictly by appointment only, please do not turn up and expect to be shown round without making an appointment first.

If you wish to go ahead with the exchange, you must contact us to get approval.

Mutual Exchange Property Viewer(opens in a new window).

Photos for the Register

In order to show your home off to people viewing the register, we strongly recommend that you include photos of your home.

Here are some tips on how to take photos of your home - to present the property in the best possible way;

• Before taking any pictures, walk around the whole property and identify if there are areas that you need to tidy (such as an overgrown garden, rubbish, move bins out of the way etc)
• Rather than a front on view, take an angled shot
• If you live in a flat, take a picture of the whole block
• Try to get move cars out of the way if they block the shot
• Don't shoot into the sunlight - wait until the property is not in shadow
• Take more of the shot than you need, we can crop the shot on the computer
• Take photos of any particularly nice aspects about your home (such as landscaped gardens, new kitchen etc)
• Take more than one shot and send us as many as you can we will choose the best ones.

If you have digital photos of your home please email them to; enquiries@ssha.co.uk.

Other Mutual Exchange Websites

HomeSwapper

HomeSwapper operates as both a local and national mutual exchange service. It is the UK’s largest community of social housing tenants looking to swap homes. Any social tenant can join for a charge of around £2 a month.

HomeSwapper(external link)

Other Exchange Schemes

For a full list of website exchange schemes visit the DirectGov website. Although the DirectGov website refers to Council tenants it also includes housing association tenants.

DirectGov(external link)