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Information on Mutual Exchange and Home swap scheme Mutual Exchange can be used to swap properties.
If you want to swap your council house or flat with someone else’s house or flat, we call this a mutual exchange. You can swap with another Southend-on-Sea Borough Council tenant or a Housing Association tenant, or other local council tenants.
You can advertise your home in the following ways;
· At the Customer Contact Centre at 49 Alexandra Street, Southend,SS1 1BW
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In the Customer Contact Centre at the Civic Centre
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In your local newspaper or in the local newspaper of the area you wish to move to.
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The exchange files can be viewed at any of the Area Housing Offices, the Customer Contact Centre at the Civic Centre during office hours. An appointment is not necessary. The homeswapper files can also be viewed via the internet at the Customer Contact Centre along with hard copies.
If you find someone you want to swap with, you will need to fill in an exchange application form. You can get one of these from the Customer Contact Centre or download it here "mutual exchange registration" form.
If you are not a Southend Borough Council tenant you need to complete a alternative "Eligibility Criteria" form.
When we receive your application form, an officer from the Neighbourhood Services Team will arrange to visit and inspect your home. This is to check if any repairs or alterations need doing before the exchange.
We normally allow exchanges providing both residents are keeping to their tenancy conditions and neither home is too small or too large for the families wanting to move into it.
If your home, or the home you are wanting to move to has had adaptations carried out we will need to ensure that the proposed exchanges meets everyone needs.
We will tell you if we agree to the exchange within 42 days of receiving your application form. We will give you a choice of the date, time for your sign up interview.
You will need the permission from South Essex Homes before you exchange properties. There are certain procedures that are carried out before permission is granted, and the exchange process can take up to six weeks to finalise. The Council cannot refuse permission unreasonably (see Rights Section).
Further information and application forms can be obtained from the Customer Contact Centre and from the Customer Contact Centre at the Civic Centre. To discuss a mutual exchange, please contact the Neighbourhood Services Team on 0800 833 160.
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