Canterbury area of East Kent Housing

Who can apply for a mutual exchange?

All East Kent Housing tenants with a secure tenancy have a right to exchange their home. An exchange can only go ahead with our permission. In some circumstances we may refuse permission but we have to give a reason. Schedule 3 of the Housing Act 1985, lists the grounds we can use for refusing a tenant's request to exchange their home. For example, we will not let an exchange go ahead if:

  • the tenant is required to give up possession under a current court order;
  • proceedings for possession have started with the issue of a current Notice of Seeking Possession;
  • the home is substantially larger than is required by the proposed exchange tenant (in some cases one additional bedroom in excess of housing need will be acceptable, however, we would not agree to a single person exchanging into a two-bedroom house that is suitable for a family)
  • the exchange will result in overcrowding;
  • the property is specifically adapted for a disabled person and the proposed exchange tenant has no need for such accommodation.

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