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Mutual Exchange

If you are a tenant of a Council or a Housing Association and would like to move home, a mutual exchange (also known as a swap) is an option worth considering.

A swap can help you move quickly, and gives you control in deciding where you stay.

You can swap with tenants of your own landlord, tenants of another Council, or tenants of a Housing Association. All tenants involved must hold a Scottish Secure Tenancy Agreement (or equivalent in other parts of the UK).

Swaps are not limited to 2 households, and Mutual Exchange 'chains' can be created, with 3+ properties involved in the swap.

How Do I Find a Swap?

Home Swap  is our online mutual exchange service to help you find an exchange. 

More detailed information about our HomeSwap service can be found here.

You may also find an exchange through other ways, such as speaking with friends, family or neighbours, or through another online service.    

What do I do when I’ve found a swap?

You must  request permission from your landlord before you move home.  Both/all parties involved must submit a Mutual Exchange application to their own landlord. If only 1 party requests the exchange, it cannot be considered.

If you’re a tenant with any of the following landlords, you can complete our FHR Mutual Exchange Application form: 

  • Fife Council
  • Ark Housing Association (HA)
  • Blackwood Homes
  • Dunedin Canmore HA
  • Fife Housing Group
  • Glen HA
  • Hillcrest Homes
  • Home Group
  • Kingdom HA
  • Link HA
  • Ochil View HA
  • Ore Valley HA
  • Viewpoint HA

Our online FHR Mutual Exchange application can found here, A paper Mutual Exchange Application form is also available through your FHR Partner Landlord.

Your FHR Mutual Exchange application will be shared with your own landlord, and with the landlord of the property you’re looking to exchange with.

All mutual exchange applications will be considered, however some rules do apply. The rules relate to all parties/properties involved in the exchange. A mutual exchange may be refused where: 

  • there are rent arrears or outstanding recharges 
  • a notice for eviction has been served or an eviction order is in place 
  • any person involved in the exchange has pursued a course of antisocial behaviour 
  • the inside of the property is not to a reasonable standard 
  • the house has been designed or adapted, and the incoming household does not need the adaptations 
  • the exchange would result in under-occupation (too many bedrooms) 
  • the exchange would result in overcrowding (not enough bedrooms) 
  • either party is not a secure tenant, or has a Short Scottish Secure Tenancy (SSST) 

Each landlord operates their own Mutual Exchange Policy. They will apply their own standards when considering an exchange request. 

Your landlord must provide a written decision within 28 days. If you have not had a response to your application within 28 days, you can assume your application has been approved.

If your application is approved, a suitable exchange date will be arranged between yourself, your exchanging tenant, and the landlords involved. You will be required to sign a new Tenancy Agreement. Essential safety checks will be carried out when you move home. 

Service Update

November 2023 - Customer Survey

We want to hear from you! Fife Housing Register are running a customer survey from November 2023 to January 2024. We want to hear from applicants who have either completed their housing journey with us or are currently on our waiting list. Your answers could help us improve our service in the future. Please see the below link to the survey;

FHR SURVEY

June 2023 - The Fife Housing Register Team have moved base from New City House, Dunfermline to Brunton House, Cowdenbeath. Any Post being sent to the FHR Team should be sent to the following;

Fife Housing Register Team, Cowdenbeath Customer Service Centre, Brunton House, High Street, Cowdenbeath, KY4 9QU.

Alternatively you can;-

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