Bournemouth Borough Council has a new mutual exchange scheme.  The previous register is being replaced with an internet based service called HomeSwapper which holds details of people seeking an exchange in Bournemouth as well as details of those wishing to move here from outside the Borough.

We have funded this service to enable Bournemouth Borough Council tenants to register FREE of charge from 1 July 2008.  If you are a tenant of another organisation then please contact them directly for more information.

Once your entry on the website has been approved, you will be able to go ‘on-line’ and view the matches as well as HomeSwapper e-mailing or texting you at regular intervals with details of potential exchange partners.

Who can apply for a mutual exchange?

All Bournemouth Borough Council tenants have a right to exchange. We will encourage exchanges and will not unreasonably withhold permission.

Why do I need to apply for permission before exchanging my accommodation?

You are legally responsible for your property and for the prompt payment of rent. You are also required to keep to the terms of your Tenancy Agreement and must not exchange or Assign your Tenancy without our consent.  Therefore, we will take legal action against you if you exchange your accommodation without permission.

Before giving consent to an exchange, we must ensure that tenants have met certain conditions:

• Each tenant should have a clear rent account at the time of exchange
• Each tenant should be moving to a property of the correct size for their current housing needs
• A tenant moving to a specially adapted property must have been assessed and given a medical recommendation for that type of accommodation

These are the main terms that must be met. However certain other conditions may apply.

How will I find a suitable exchange partner?

We now have an online home swap service as we want to make it as easy as possible for you to move home.  This is available on www.homeswapper.co.uk which Bournemouth Borough Council subscribe to, so if you are a tenant of ours you can apply to the national register and will not be charged a registration fee.  If you do not have internet access the following options are available:

·         Family and friends may have an internet computer you can use

·         Local libraries

·         Internet cafes

·         We will be providing a dedicated computer in the reception of our Kinson Office and in the Tenant Resource Centre at Strouden Library

Homeswapper is the largest online mutual exchange service for Council & Housing Association tenants who want to swap homes, it generates thousands of potential swaps each week.

Safety first!

Before you visit a possible exchange partner (or they visit you), please read our safety advice.

What should I take into account when viewing a property?

Remember, you need to be sure about a property – after all, it is potentially going to be your new home.  Make as many appointments as you need, including weekends and evenings, before you make the decision to go ahead with a move.  

Another thing to take into account is the cost of moving – not just for removals but for furniture, soft furnishings, repairs etc.

Before you visit a property, make a checklist of all your priorities.  These could include:

• Number of bedrooms
• What are the local schools like?
• Is there allocated parking? If not, is it easy to park?
• Are transport links good?
• How far is it to the nearest station/bus stop?
• Location, location, location - in fact, have a good walk around the neighbourhood you're thinking of settling in. Those well-spent ten minutes can be very enlightening.
• What are the neighbours like?
• Consider garden size (private or shared), paths, fences etc.
• What's going on in the local community?
• Amenities – where are the nearest shops?
• Does the type of heating suit you?
• Amount of decoration you're prepared to put up with
• When would the current residents want to move?
• What do the current residents plan to take with them?
• What will your new landlord be like?

Be sure about what is involved.  If there are fittings that have been provided by the outgoing tenant, and not by Bournemouth Borough Council, then we will not maintain or replace them in the future.   If you accept them you will have to sign a form to say you will take responsibility to repair the items yourself.

Also gas fires provided by the tenant rather than the Council cannot under any circumstances be left in a property on mutual exchange.  This is because we cannot allow you to be put at risk.  This measure is to protect the safety of you and your family.

How do I exchange?

Firstly, make contact with the resident of the property you wish to move to. If all parties are happy to swap, you should then contact us to request an application form.

Your application should clearly state on it the address to which you would like to move.

If you are moving out of a Bournemouth Borough Council property, we will want to check the condition of your home and discuss the move generally with you.

All being well, the next step is for landlords to exchange reports on the proposed moves, and for all parties to agree the date of the move.  If for any reason the move is refused, you will be informed in writing.

Almost the last stage is the paperwork.  You and the other parties to the exchange will need to arrange to meet the Housing Officer to sign assignment documents.  Legally this means the new tenants become party to the Tenancy Agreement and the outgoing residents give up their rights and responsibilities to the property.  You will normally need to bring some proof of identity when you come to sign the paperwork.

Can a mutual exchange be refused?

We must give consent to an exchange unless one of a series of legal grounds for refusal apply:

• If either tenant has a suspended or outright possession order.
• If possession proceedings have begun because of rent arrears or anti-social behaviour.
• If the accommodation is substantially larger than is required.
• If the accommodation is not large enough to house the family concerned.
• If the accommodation is adapted for a person with a disability and there would be no disabled person living in the dwelling.
• Where the property provides accommodation for a person with special needs and no one within such a group would be occupying the dwelling.

Remember:

• You can only carry out an exchange with your landlord's permission.
• When you accept the property you accept it in the condition it is in regardless.  
• Once you have moved you cannot move back unless both parties agree and you start the process again.

You must not offer to pay for someone to exchange with you.  This is illegal and could cause both of you to lose your homes.

Will pursuing a mutual exchange affect my application for a transfer?

No, pursuing an exchange will not affect your application for a transfer. It will, however, increase your chances of obtaining a move.

What if I do not have any priority for a transfer? Can I still apply for a mutual exchange?

Yes, the advantage of mutual exchange is that the moves are not based on priority need, therefore giving all tenants the chance of an exchange.

How long does a mutual exchange take to complete?

We want to make the process for moving home as smooth as possible for you.  From receipt of your application we must make a decision within 42 days about whether the exchange can proceed.   This may appear to be a long time but in this time all parties will have needed to complete mutual exchange application and return to their landlord. The landlords will then all need to obtain references for the incoming tenants.

Safety First!

If you are going to visit somebody at their property, follow this advice to protect your personal safety. 

• Always plan your journey in advance - check bus and train times. If practical, order a cab to come to the property you are viewing at a certain time, or arrange for someone to collect you at a pre-arranged time.
• Try to view the property in daylight.
• If you can, take someone with you.
• If you can’t take a friend, leave the following details with a friend or in an obvious place in your own home, or call your own answer machine with the details:
• where you are going (address and telephone number)
• the time of the viewing
• the name of the person you are meeting
• Ask the person you are meeting if there will be someone else there when you view the property. Don’t be afraid to say that you are aware of your own personal safety and need to know as many details as possible so that you can inform a friend of your whereabouts.
• Never accept a lift before or after viewing a property - no matter how tempting the offer.
• Carry a personal alarm. Have it in an easily accessible pocket.
• Bring your mobile phone and keep it switched on and in a safe place, out of view. If you don’t have one, see if you can borrow one.
• Use the mobile phone to "log someone in". Phone a friend/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 (feeling sick/room sizes not big enough/too large for your needs. Be polite about the property you are viewing).

If you are showing your property

• Do not give out unnecessary personal details.
• Try to make sure someone is with you during the viewing.
• Check whether there will be anyone with the person who is viewing your property, and if so, who it is.
• Let a friend or neighbour know that someone is coming to see your home. Give the name, address and telephone number of the person viewing, and time of viewing.
• Let the viewer know that your friend or neighbour will be dropping by in 20-30 minutes, and arrange with someone to do so. Let the friend or neighbour know that if you phone during the viewing, they should come immediately.  If you are uneasy, phone the friend or neighbour you have arranged to pop in so that they come immediately.  

Please contact your local housing management team on the following numbers if you have any queries about this scheme:-

Strouden Library,

Castlepoint,

Castle Lane West,

Bournemouth

(01202) 451915

Kinson Neighbourhood Office,

1599-1601 Wimborne Road,

 Kinson,

 Bournemouth

(01202) 453907

 If you are a Sheltered Housing tenant please telephone (01202) 452792. Alternatively you can e-mail housinglandlord@bournemouth.gov.uk