Mutual exchanges enable two or more council or housing association tenants to swap homes. 

To do this you must be a secure council tenant or an assured tenant of a housing association. You will not be able to do an exchange if you are an introductory tenant. 

If you are interested in exchanging properties, but don't know if you are able to, please contact the Home Options team or your own landlord for more details. Please also see our online exchange sites information for ways to find an exchange. 

When you do a mutual exchange you make an agreement to accept the property in the condition that you viewed it in. You will not be eligible for assistance with decorating your new home and you will need to pay all costs incurred in moving. 

Mutual exchange application form 

If you wish to complete a mutual exchange, please complete the form below and return it to: home.options@chesterfield.gov.uk.  

Application form for proposed mutual exchanges

(PDF 78 KB)

What happens next? 

It is your responsibility to contact the person directly to discuss exchanging properties, using the contact information on the advert. Once you have found someone to exchange with, you must contact the Home Options Team. 

You must not move or make any arrangements to move until you have written permission from your landlord. If you exchange without permission, you will have no security of tenure and you may be evicted or forced to return to your original home. If you give or receive money or goods to persuade someone to exchange with you, you could be liable for eviction and/or receive a fine. 

We will check the condition of your property and ensure you meet the criteria for a mutual exchange. 

Once approved, you will receive confirmation in writing. You will then need to sign new tenancy agreements for your new property. 

Reasons for refusal 

• rent arrears - permission will usually be granted, but you must clear any rent arrears before you move 
• a Notice of Seeking Possession has been issued 
• legal action is being taken for arrears or other breaches of tenancy agreement 
• a property is too large or small for the person or family moving in 
• the property was built for, or has been adapted for a disabled person and you do not meet the criteria or need the adaptations  
• the property has been designed for an older person and you do not meet the age related criteria 

This list is not exclusive – please contact the allocations team for further information. 

How long will the process take? 

Depending on the details of your exchange (for example how many parties are involved and whether you are moving long distance or moving within the local area), it can take up to 42 days from the day all parties involved hand in their mutual exchange application forms, for landlords to agree an exchange and give you permission to move. 

Safety tips 

For your own safety when arranging to view an exchange or to show your home, it is always sensible to take some basic precautions.  

If you are viewing a property:  

• plan your journey in advance and check bus or train times - if possible, order a taxi to come to the property you are viewing at a set time, or arrange for someone to collect you at a pre-arranged time
• arrange your visit during daylight
• take someone with you - if you can’t take someone, leave the appointment details with a friend or in an obvious place in your own home; include the address and telephone number of the property you are visiting, the name of the person you are meeting and the time of the viewing
• ask the person you are meeting if there will be anyone else there when you view the property - don’t be ashamed to say that you are aware of your own personal safety and need to know as many details as possible so that you can tell someone of your whereabouts
• don’t accept a lift before or after viewing a property, no matter how tempting the offer  
• carry a personal alarm on you  
• take your mobile phone, keep it switched on and in a safe place, out of view - if you don’t own one, see if you can borrow one  
• use your mobile phone to let someone know you have arrived - phone a friend or relative to say "Hi, just to let you know I’ve arrived at ... and Mr (or Mrs)... is showing me around, I’ll meet you in 20 minutes, but give me a ring if I’m running late"  
• trust your instincts - if you have a funny feeling about something, leave straight away; be prepared with an excuse to leave before attending the viewing (that you are feeling sick or the room sizes not big enough or too large for your needs; be polite about the property you are viewing) 

For more details, please see our Home Options policy.