How to apply
Tenants who wish to apply to swap their home with another tenant must complete a Mutual Exchange Request Form. This form is available from our website and from any of our public offices. Once we receive this we will arrange for a survey of your home and that of the other tenants you are seeking to exchange with. If appropriate, we may seek references from another landlord. We will then write back to you advising if your application has been accepted or not within 21 days from receipt of the exchange form.
Helpful hints before agreeing to exchange house
When you have found somebody to swap with it is advisable to visit each other’s homes to ensure the property is suitable. Listed below are some questions you may wish to ask prior to agreeing to move:-
- Why do the other party want to move? It is always good to ask why they want to move because it can identify if there are any ongoing problems.
- Have any improvements been carried out to the property? Was permission granted by the Landlord for the improvements? Was the work done by professional tradesmen? Any repairs to non-standard fixtures and fittings will not be carried out by River Clyde Homes; the house is being accepted as viewed.
- Any outstanding repairs agreed by River Clyde Homes will be carried out as reported by the previous tenant.
- Prior to agreeing to move it is better to establish any fixtures and fittings being left so it is clear to both parties.
Safety
There are a few simple rules on personal safety when allowing people into your home or visiting a stranger’s home:-
- Ensure you are not alone in your house when allowing somebody to view your home or when viewing another home.
- If possible take a relative or friend with you when visiting someone else’s property.
- If no one can accompany you it is advisable to tell someone where you are going and what time you would expect to return home.
- Do not leave any valuable items on show in your home at the time of viewing and put personal items such as keys and bank cards in a safe place out of sight.
Permission
When you have agreed with someone that you want to swap homes you should then submit the completed mutual exchange forms to your landlord. They will then arrange for an assessment of your home to be carried out to ensure the property is being kept to an acceptable standard and also check your family composition. Thereafter, providing both rent accounts are clear and the property is suitable for your needs your applications will be approved. Under no circumstance should you exchange before written permission is granted by your landlord.
Moving
Once the exchange has been approved, and permission granted, your landlord will write to both parties with a time and date to call to the office to sign terminations for their former tenancy and a Scottish Secure Tenancy Agreement advising of the prospective date of entry. After all the documentation has been signed the parties should then agree when the actual move will take placeThe new Right To Buy legislation will apply to exchanging tenants.
Grounds for refusal
River Clyde Homes will not unreasonably refuse consent for you to swap your home. However, the grounds under which we may refuse consent include the following:
- We have served you with a Notice of Proceedings warning you that we are seeking to have you removed from your home under the terms of Section 14(2) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001
- We have obtained an order for your eviction
- You have rent arrears equivalent to one month’s rent charge and where an arrangement to repay this debt has not been adhered to for a period of three months. Permission will not be refused if you have technical arrears
- Your house was provided to you in connection with your employment with us
- Your house has been designed or adapted for occupation by a person whose special needs require accommodation of the kind provided by the house and if the exchange took place, there would no longer be a person with such special needs occupying the house
- The accommodation in the other house is substantially larger than what you require, or is not suitable to the needs of you and your family
- The exchange would result in either party becoming overcrowded
- Your house is included in any River Clyde Homes sensitive lettings initiative and the party you wish to exchange with does not meet the entry criteria.
The above examples do not in any way alter our general right to refuse permission on reasonable grounds and we will consider every case in its own merits.
Help to find someone to exchange with
In order to increase your chances of finding someone to exchange with it is recommended that you are flexible in terms of the areas and type of housing you want.
River Clyde Homes will actively assist any tenant who is looking to find another to exchange with.
If you provide us with information of your current home, as well as details of where you would like to move to, then we will arrange to advertise this on a mutual exchange request card which we will then display in our public offices. We can also include this information on the letting section of the River Clyde Homes website.
In addition to the above, and with your permission, we may give your details out to any other applicant for housing who we feel may be interested in swapping their home with your.
You can contact us by telephoning (01475) 715 862/3/4/5 or by e-mailing us on lettingteam@riverclydehomes.org.uk
Alternatively, please feel free to visit us at our Wallace Place Office, there is no need to make an appointment.
