Mutual exchange social housing

emma19910

Hello
I currently live alone in a one bed housing association flat and so am only entitled to one bedroom. Would it be possible for me to mutually exchange with a person in a two bed council flat/HA or house?
Thankyou.

princessdon

I assume people would bite your hand off for the offer with the bedroom tax on its way.

McKneff

You are only going to get any definitive answer from the council/housing association that you rent from

nannytone_2

the final decision would be with the council/housing association, and they are unlikely to allow someone more bedrooms than they need

emma19910

Thanks for the replies. I’ll ask at my housing association.

bright_side

I recently did a mutual exchange from a three bed to a two bed. The lady who moved into mine only has one child, so didn't NEED a 3 bed, however my housing association allows you to have one more bedroom than you actually need. She is on benefits but was happy to pay the 14% charge for the spare room.
As we're all aware, the new policy isn't about freeing up the larger properties, it's about reducing the housing benefit bill.

emma19910

underling wrote: »

Why do you need two bedrooms if you live alone? I don't know if you can swap, but it shouldn't be allowed.

I don’t need two bedrooms. I want two, and I thought due to the ‘bedroom tax’ coming in, and the flat being fairly desirable (ground floor, garden, nice area) someone who lives alone in a two bedroom place may wish to swap. I would not, however, leave the second room empty. I intended to have a friend or family member lodge with me. I suffer from depression and have a drug problem, and living alone does not help.

Gentile wrote: »

Yes, you are entitled to that if you choose to live a life dependent on the State. However, you have a choice to "upgrade" by going out, getting a job, working hard at it for years and then move into a bigger house on your own accord. How about that ?

I have a full time job.
If I am able to exchange will I be able to keep a secure tenancy like I have now? I remember reading somewhere that they had changed social housing tenancy’s for new tenants so now there only 2 years (!) for those under 25 (which I am)

DomRavioli

emma19910 wrote: »

I don’t need two bedrooms. I want two, and I thought due to the ‘bedroom tax’ coming in, and the flat being fairly desirable (ground floor, garden, nice area) someone who lives alone in a two bedroom place may wish to swap. I would not, however, leave the second room empty. I intended to have a friend or family member lodge with me. I suffer from depression and have a drug problem, and living alone does not help.

That is a whole NEW ball game. Subletting is usually against your tenancy, so you cannot re-rent another room in the property. They would have to be a named tenant or dependent, and would have to go through all necessary checks to become a tenant. Also, they would have claim to the property as well as you.

Ring your housing provider. If you wish for someone to live with you, its usually easier to re-apply as a brand new tenant than go through mutual exchange if you want to move as well, but you cannot sublet regardless of how you pay the rent, as it isnt your home to agree a rental with.