Swap your home

Mutual Exchanges

Maybe the family has grown up and moved on, or you need more room... or perhaps you’re affected by the recent housing benefit changes and are having to find extra money each week to pay for your spare bedroom.

Maybe you just want to move closer to family and friends.

We're a member of HomeSwapper, the national home swap service that is free to all North West Leicestershire District Council tenants who are looking to swap.

HomeSwapper is for social tenants (in rented property) who want to swap their home by exchanging tenancies. This is called mutual exchange. If you live in a council house or housing association property you will normally be allowed to swap where:

Both homes are of a suitable size (The Council will allow you to have one spare room but other landlords may have a different approach)
Neither of the tenants involved owe any rent
Both homes are in an acceptable condition and the council will not have to carry out any decoration or repairs
both tenants have secure or assured tenancies.

You can swap within or outside the district and can even apply to swap with someone living in housing association property, provided the above criteria are met.

Moving through the Home Swapper scheme is often much quicker that waiting for a suitable transfer through the Choice Based Lettings scheme.

You can receive a payment of £250 if you choose to move through the HomeSwapper scheme and a free paint pack to help with decorating.

How does HomeSwapper work?

1) Log onto www.homeswapper.co.uk

2) Completed the online registration form

3) Enter your details and the details of the type and size and property you are looking for

4) HomeSwapper will automatically match you to possible home swaps.

Once you have found a tenant you would like to swap with, you need to contact our Housing Management Team for further advice. You must NOT exchange or swap your home until you've got permission from us.

If you’re interested and want to find out more register now for free!

What Happens Now?

Now you have found a swap we will need to receive an application from all parties, this can be either through HomeTracker which is part of the HomeSwapper website or by contacting Housing Management on 01530 454660 0r via email housing.mgt@nwleicestershire.gov.uk and requesting a paper application form. Please remember if you are swapping with a tenant from a different council or housing association, you will also be required to apply directly with them for the exchange.

On receipt of all fully completed applications, we the councils housing department has a legal obligation to agree or refuse the exchange (please note this is NOT the moving date) within 42 days. You will receive an acknowledgement letter confirming your application has been received and also asking you to think if there will be any items you wish to gift to the incoming tenant, if they agree. This could be items such as blinds, curtains and curtain poles etc.

Following this:

We will check you and all parties are eligible to exchange
If you are exchanging with a tenant who is from a different provider will we make contact with them
- We will also request a reference for the incoming tenant and provide a reference for the out going tenant to the landlord
An electrical inspection will be carried out at your property
Plus a property inspection and a revisit to inspection any work which was identified to be completed
The full case will then be reviewed and at this point the exchange will be authorised or refused
If you are refused you will receive a letter confirming the reasons why
If the exchange has been authorised we will contact to discuss if there any conditions attached, This can be and not limited to
- A clear rent account for when the exchange takes place
- Repairs that are the tenants responsibility are completed before a moving date is discussed
- There has been an outcome of any form of complaint made in regards to the property
Once all conditions have been meet we will make contact with all parties to arrange a moving date
- We will also arrange for the paperwork to be completed
- This will usually be carried out at the Customer Centre in Coalville the week before the move, the incoming tenant/s and outgoing tenant/s must attend
- The first weeks rent will be taken at this appointment
At this point the move will then take place.

Below is useful information you will need to know throughout the process.

Tenancy Agreement and Handbook

Please find here a link to a copy of the tenancy agreement you will be accepting the terms of when signing for the property Tenancy Agreement 2023

And here is a link to the Tenant's Handbook - Tenant's Handbook 2022

Utilities

You will need to set up accounts with gas / electric / water suppliers / Wi-Fi etc. Please also think about redirecting any post

Rent

A bar coded letter will be sent to you in the post within 5 days of your tenancy starting. This can be used to pay your rent at any pay point stores, you will then receive a payment card in the coming weeks.

If you would like to set up a Direct Debit, please call our Rent Accounting team on 01530 454798
If you receive help to pay your rent through Universal Credit you will need to contact them to report a change of address
If you receive Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support you will need to report the change here: Report a change in circumstances - benefits - North West Leicestershire District Council (nwleics.gov.uk)
If you would prefer to speak with someone and request a paper copy, please call 01530 454545
Do you need to make a fresh claim for benefits? The below link will give you details of some of the Benefits you can claim towards paying your rent and how to make the claim
Apply for benefits - North West Leicestershire District Council (nwleics.gov.uk)

Change Address

Please use the below links to change your address for Council Tax (please note, council tax support is different) and the Electoral Register

Useful Information

Your Housing Officer can be reached via the below contact details. As they spend a lot of time out on the district you may be greeted by one of our experienced Housing Assistants who will be able to help with your contact.

Telephone: 01530 454660
Email: housing.mgt@nwleicestershire.gov.uk

Repairs

To report a repair the contact details are:

Contact Number: 01530 454635
Online Form: Housing - Report a Repair - North West Leicestershire District Council (achieveservice.com)
Email: repairs@newleicestershire.gov.uk
Please read our Repairs Handbook which can be found here: Repairs Handbook July 2021.pdf (nwleics.gov.uk)
For more information about our repairs service please visit: More repairs information - North West Leicestershire District Council (nwleics.gov.uk)

Decoration

We do understand you will be excited to decorate your new home. If the walls do have wallpaper on them, we do ask you follow the below guide:

Wall paper letter

Property Alterations

Please remember if you would like to make any alteration to your home permission by NWLDC must be granted. To find out how to request permission please follow this link:

https://www.nwleics.gov.uk/files/documents/tenants_guide_to_permissions_and_property_alterations/Tenants%20guide%20to%20permissions%20and%20property%20alterations.pdf

Content Insurance

We strongly recommend that you take out contents’ insurance as NWLDC are not responsible for any loss / damage to your belongings. The below link will provide details of our approved supplier

Council home contents insurance - North West Leicestershire District Council (nwleics.gov.uk)

Resident Involvement

We have a dedicated Resident Involvement Team who work closely with the tenants and residents of the district to help shape the service of the council. If this is of interest and to get an idea of what they do, please follow the below link:

https://www.nwleics.gov.uk/pages/resident_involvement