Exchange Criteria

• Who can exchange properties
• Permission to exchange
• If your mutual exchange fails
• Gas and electricity checks
• Reasons we might refuse a mutual exchange

Who can exchange properties

1. A Kirklees council tenant and a Kirklees council tenant
2. A Kirklees council tenant and a council tenant from another authority
3. A Kirklees council tenant and a tenant from a housing association.

Permission to exchange

You must get our permission before you can swap your home. We usually agree as long as there have been no problems with your tenancy.

If we do not let you exchange your property it is for a good reason like your home has been adapted. The list of reasons for refusal are below. You will have to pay off any rent arrears and any debts to the council before we let you exchange.

• Mutual Exchange Application Form (PDF 130kb)
  Note: Only complete the Mutual Exchange Application Form if you have identified a property and agreed with another tenant to apply to exchange.

If your mutual exchange fails

If you cannot find another property to swap with you could apply for a different council home by filling in a housing register application form.

• Housing Registration Application Form (PDF 590kb)

If you have permission to exchange and move into your new property but the other people do not move into the property you have left, i.e. they move somewhere else, Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing (KNH) will ask you to move back to your original property. KNH may start court proceedings to make sure you return to the original property.

Gas and electricity checks

Before a mutual exchange is approved gas and electricity checks will be carried out and we will charge for these. If either party decides not to continue with the exchange after the checks have been carried out the charge is still payable by each party.

Reasons we might refuse a mutual exchange

1. If one or both parties wishing to exchange has been served a court order giving notice to quit the property.
2. If one or both parties wishing to exchange has received Notice of Proceedings for possession and the notice has not expired.
3. The size of the property is not suitable for the parties exchanging, it might be too big and not be a good use of council homes, or it might be too small and cause overcrowding.
4. If the property has been restricted for people of a certain age, for example over 60s, and the party hoping to move into the property are not in that age group.
5. If part of one or both of the properties is used by the council for a purpose other than housing, or one of the properties is in a cemetery.
6. If one or both of the properties have been tied to the employment of the tenant for example if it is a school caretakers home.
7. The property is owned by a charity and the exchange would be against their rules.
8. The property has been designed or adapted specifically for a physically disabled person and where the exchange partner or family is not disabled.
9. If one of the properties is owned by a housing association or housing trust and has a particular purpose for example it is sheltered or for older people and the exchange partner does not fit that criteria.
10. If one of the properties is for people with special needs or is a group of properties supported by social care services and the exchange partner does not fit the criteria.
11. If one of the properties is managed by a housing association and that housing association must have at least 50% membership and the exchanging party is not willing to become a member.
12. Full details of why we might refuse a mutual exchange (PDF 30kb)