Swap My Home
You can swap your home with another North Star tenant or with a customer from another registered housing provider or council.
What are mutual exchanges?
Mutual exchanges can often be a quicker way of moving house than a transfer.
You may wish to exchange your property for a different home in your area or move to a different location entirely. You can exchange with another tenant living in any part of the country.
The landlords involved will need to give their consent for a mutual exchange to happen.
How do I organise a mutual exchange?
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Search on mutual exchange websites such as Homeswapper which is free to use for North Star customers.
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If you don’t have internet access, or you need some help looking for properties, your Housing Officer can help you register for Homeswapper and send you details of suitable properties in a way that suits you.
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If you find a suitable property to swap with, contact your Housing Officer who will send out an application form to start the process.
We'll let you know whether your application has been accepted or refused within 42 days of us receiving it.
Why might I be denied a mutual exchange?
If you're on an assured shorthold tenancy, or you're in the first 12 months of a probationary tenancy (or an extended probationary period), you can't do a mutual exchange.
You also won't be able to for any of the following reasons which are set out in the Housing Act 1985:
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late or delayed rent payments
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you or the person you are swapping with cannot afford the rent and other charges
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the use of a starter tenancy
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the property you want to move into being too big or too small for the number of people involved
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the property you want to move into has been built or adapted for certain needs but there would be no person with physical disabilities living in the property
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the existence of a court order made against you for breach of tenancy, or a notice of seeking possession.
What happens when my application is accepted?
Once the applications from the tenants have been accepted, a visit will be made to each property.
If the person you're swapping with isn't a North Star tenant, we'll need a report from their landlord.
Your rent account needs to be up to date, including any court costs, and there should be no outstanding sundry debts. These are things like costs of repairs that North Star aren't responsible for.
It is your responsibility to make sure the property you're moving into is in good repair as we won't cover the costs of damage caused by the outgoing tenant's misuse or neglect.
We'll carry out a Gas Safe and Electrical Test at the time of the exchange to make sure the property is safe to move into.
Related Pages
Rechargeable Repairs
Find out which repairs you, as a North Star tenant, are responsible for paying for.
Renting a home
Find out how to apply to rent a home in the area where you'd like to live.
Contact us
Get in touch if you have any questions about mutual exchanges.