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Homeswapping

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sjp1966
sjp1966 Posts: 83 Forumite
First Post First Anniversary Combo Breaker
in House buying, renting & selling
Not sure if this is allowed on this forum but couldnt find anywhere else to put it. Me an my missus are basically on a homeswap site, all I know is that if i swap with someone that they should have an assured or secure tenancy like we do so that we keep the same tenancy type.

Is there anything that I need to be aware of that could turn sour (potentially) If i dont check beforehand?

Thanks

S
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  • AdrianC
    AdrianC Posts: 42,189 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
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    Is this a local authority swap?

    You can't just swap privately rented property.
  • kinger101
    kinger101 Posts: 6,282 Forumite
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    You need to look for houses with pampas grass outside.
    "Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance" - Confucius
  • t0rt0ise
    t0rt0ise Posts: 4,276 Forumite
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    Presumably you are a council or HA tenant.

    You have to follow the rules about the size of place you can swap with as in the number of bedrooms. When I did it we were allowed one extra bedroom but I don't know if it has changed.

    Also be aware that you won't get repairs done to the place before you move in, you take it as is, except they will check gas and electricity and correct anything necessary there. Then the other danger is that either of you can pull out at any time. We kept phoning each other and checking that we were still going through with it.
  • sjp1966
    sjp1966 Posts: 83 Forumite
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    Its not privately rented, we are allowed to homeswap, I am trying to find out the pitfalls.
  • sjp1966
    sjp1966 Posts: 83 Forumite
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    t0rt0ise wrote: »
    Presumably you are a council or HA tenant.

    You have to follow the rules about the size of place you can swap with as in the number of bedrooms. When I did it we were allowed one extra bedroom but I don't know if it has changed.

    Also be aware that you won't get repairs done to the place before you move in, you take it as is, except they will check gas and electricity and correct anything necessary there. Then the other danger is that either of you can pull out at any time. We kept phoning each other and checking that we were still going through with it.

    Yeah we are HA and possibly swapping with a council tenant. hen you say wont get repairs done? surely if you move in and something needs doing they will repair it as they would if you were already an tenant?
  • kay0601
    kay0601 Posts: 76 Forumite
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    You basically sign something saying you accept the house in its current condition. So if there's a hole in the wall or they've installed something like a new bathroom and then work needs done further down the line (whether an emergency or not) you'll be liable for the costs.
  • Lioness_Twinkletoes
    Lioness_Twinkletoes Posts: 1,573 Forumite
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    The biggest pitfall of a mutual exchange is a) the unrealistic wants (I have a one bed 12th floor flat and NEED a three bed house with garden overlooking the sea) and b) the timewasters. So many timewasters. One woman arranged for view my home three times and never showed up. She never responds to messages either.

    Also, you are taking a huge risk in terms of neighbours and area. Everyone wants to move for a reason and generally those reasons are anti social behaviour and neighbour issues.

    Fortunately, I work for an LA so I can always check with the ASB team to see if there are any issues.
  • jAXOMSHALOM
    jAXOMSHALOM Posts: 4 Newbie
    edited 14 March 2018 at 8:19AM
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    You will get normal repairs done with a mutual exhange.

    However, when you initially accept the property, you accept the condition the house is in. For example, the kitchen is shoddy and you cannot ask for a new one (we once did a mutual exhange for a house with no kitchen when we swapped and had to suck it up), so we fitted a basic kitchen ourselves.

    Unfortunately you may also take on the other person's tenancy, so if you are an assured tenant, you will have to surrender that if the person you are exhanging with has a fixed term.
    Lots of homework to do and questions to ask.

    Well out of HA tenancies now, when I look back I realise how lucky we were...
  • welshbookworm
    welshbookworm Posts: 2,905 Forumite
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    Tried this many years ago. I was mucked about alot by people who wanted to exchange and dropped out at the last minute. Also check that the HA/ council allows you to, we were about to accept one property but the council did not allow children under 12 in flats!
    But lots of people are successful, so very good luck.
    The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.
  • sjp1966
    sjp1966 Posts: 83 Forumite
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    Lioness_Twinkletoes wrote: »
    The biggest pitfall of a mutual exchange is a) the unrealistic wants (I have a one bed 12th floor flat and NEED a three bed house with garden overlooking the sea) and b) the timewasters. So many timewasters. One woman arranged for view my home three times and never showed up. She never responds to messages either.

    Also, you are taking a huge risk in terms of neighbours and area. Everyone wants to move for a reason and generally those reasons are anti social behaviour and neighbour issues.

    Fortunately, I work for an LA so I can always check with the ASB team to see if there are any issues.

    How can I check for bad neighbours and ASB, can I call the local council and/or police to find out.
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