• Skip to content
  • Skip to navigation
Logo: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Your Account
  • Menu
Close menu
Close
  • About the Council
  • Business and Economy
  • Children and Families
  • Community and Living
  • Council Tax and Benefits
  • Education and Learning
  • Environment and Waste
  • Health and Social Care
  • Housing
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Leisure and Culture
  • Planning and Development
  • Transport and Streets
  • See all news
  • See all events
  1. Home
  2. Housing
  3. Swap or exchange your council property

Swap or exchange your council property

In this section

  1. What is a Mutual Exchange?
  2. Finding a swap
  3. You are here: Apply for a mutual exchange

Apply for a mutual exchange

After signing up to Homeswapper, and finding a match, you must complete the Mutual Exchange Application form below:

Request a mutual exchange

Once we have received your application you have 10 days for the application from your proposed swap to arrive. If this is not completed within this timeframe, permission for the mutual exchange will be refused.

Once we’ve received yours and the other tenants application, we will conduct a series of checks to ensure that you are eligible for a mutual exchange. If you are applying for a home in another Council, or Housing Association, they will conduct checks of the property, and tenancy, of the Home you wish to swap with.

Things to consider

Have you viewed the property you intend to swap with? Here are some tips on how to keep safe when visiting a property.

Stay safe during home viewings - HomeSwapper

Can you afford the rent at the new property, as rent can vary between social housing providers.

Can you afford the moving costs, as these will not be covered by your Landlord.

Will you have the right to buy in the new property? For example, many Housing Associations are not included in the Right to Buy Scheme.

What checks we will do

  • You qualify for the size and type of property that you wish to move to
  • You are in a secure Tenancy, have no rent arrears or a possession order on your home, for either rent arears, or anti-social behaviour.
  • Whether you have any other breaches of Tenancy
  • That your home is in satisfactory condition
  • Gas and electrical checks
  • Similar checks will be done by the relevant council or Housing association at the property you are applying to move in to

To check that your home is in satisfactory condition a member of Rotherham Borough Council will need to visit your property, therefore it is essential you allow access to your property for this.

Depending on the outcome of these checks we will either give Approval, Conditional Approval, or a Refusal. 

Timeframe for getting back to you

We will inform you of the outcome of these checks within 42 days of receipt of both housing applications

  • Previous page: Finding a swap

Downloads

  • Empty Homes Plan
  • Housing Services: User Guides

Stay connected

Sign up for our newsletter
Footer Logo: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
  • About this website
  • Accessibility statement
  • Privacy
  • Languages
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Terms and conditions
  • Facebook logo
  • Twitter logo
  • YouTube logo
  • Instagram logo
  • LinkedIn logo

All content © 2025 Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council. All Rights Reserved.

Designed and Powered by Jadu.

chatbot launch button image
Left Right
Full Wide Split Narrow
Chatbot avatar image
Hi, I'm Bailey
I'm here to answer your questions.

Hi, I'm Bailey, how can I help you today? You can ask me questions relating to a number of council services.

To start a chat you will need to click 'continue' to confirm you have read and understood our terms and conditions Privacy Policy.

Privacy Statement