Mutual house exchanges

Our Repairs Service is still working to catch-up with the backlog of non-urgent jobs that built-up during periods of Covid-19 lockdown,  so we have introduced two categories and timescales for mutual exchanges:

• Priority 1 - for urgent mutual exchanges. These cases include when there is an urgent housing need, or when the exchange will resolve a health and safety concern. Locality Housing Teams will carry out an assessment within 28 days, and then the Repairs Team will have a further 28 days to carry out the safety checks.
• Priority 2 - for all non-urgent exchanges. Locality Teams again will have 28 days to undertake an assessment and then the Repairs Team will have a further 56 days to carry out the safety checks.

This approach allows us to act quickly to help people in the most urgent need of housing, in line with national housing and homelessness legislation.

If you are waiting for an arranged exchange we would like to thank you for your patience and understanding.

Housing adaptations and mutual exchanges 

If a tenant is considering a mutual exchange and has particular housing needs an Occupational Therapist will assess whether the property the tenant wants to move to will meet their needs,  could be adapted to meet them or if the current property already has adapted previously.

All options available to the tenant will be discussed with them and any supporting agencies prior to any decisions being made about adaptations, to ensure that a property is suitable for the tenant moving in.