We are experiencing an unprecedented demand for mutual exchanges. If you’ve submitted an application, you will receive a decision in principle within 42 days. Your move will be dependent on completing all checks required by all parties and these could take up to five months to complete.
Mutual exchange applications
Please read details below on how mutual exchange works. When you’re ready to submit your application, please email mutualexchangecoordinators@sovereign.org.uk.
More information about mutual exchange
If you have an assured, secure or fixed term tenancy with us, you may be able to swap your home with other social housing residents through HomeSwapper 
. HomeSwapper is an online mutual exchange service which lets you advertise your property and find someone to swap with. It’s free to use for Sovereign residents, and could be quicker than waiting for a transfer.
- Register your details on the HomeSwapper website and wait for ‘match alerts’ to be sent to you. Think about the affordability of homes you're interested in.
- If you find a home you like, complete our mutual exchange application form and we’ll let you know within 42 days if it’s been provisionally approved. We’ll need an application form completed by you and your proposed exchange partners.
- In order for your swap to be approved, you will need to make sure you are ‘mutual exchange ready’.
Before you can swap homes, you’ll need to speak to all of the landlords involved and ask for their approval to exchange. They then have 42 days to provisionally approve or reject the application (from when they receive applications from all residents involved).
All of the landlords need to agree they're happy for the swap to go ahead before an exchange date can be finalised.
Before applying to all of the landlords for approval to exchange, check the following applies:
- I have a secure, assured or fixed term tenancy.
- My rent account is clear.
- I don’t owe any former rent, court costs or recharges.
- There’s no active Notice of Intention to Begin Proceedings for Possession of a Property, Notice Seeking Possession, or court order against my tenancy.
- There are no repairs outstanding that I haven’t reported.
- My home and garden are in a clean, tidy and good condition.
- The people applying to move into my home are suitable for it.