Mutual exchange, next steps
- You contact the tenant directly and arrange to view each other’s property.
- Look carefully at the property and make sure you are happy with it
- If you move, Grand Union will not carry out any cleaning or decorating – this will be your responsibility
- If you like each others properties – apply to exchange on the Homeswapper website
On the form you’ll need to enter the details below for everyone in the exchange:
- Full name of the main tenant
- Email address
- The address each person will be moving to.
- If Grand Union is their current landlord.
You might be able to find these details on HomeSwapper if you’ve used it. If not, you may need to speak to everyone in the exchange to get it.
Only one notification form is needed for each mutual exchange. This is the same if there's more than one Grand Union customer in the exchange. You can decide between you, who will complete the form.
If you’re exchanging with someone who isn’t a Grand Union customer, you must also contact their landlord.
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BETA SERVICE
The ‘beta’ label means you'll be experiencing a first version of a new service or web page, it’s being tested and it may not work for everyone.
Our Mutual Exchange service has been redesigned to include a more digital service. During the beta phase services are continually tested and improved.
Beta content on any of Grand Union’s digital services follows the same rules for accessibility, cookies and privacy as existing content.
To do this you’ll need to be a current Grand Union customer. You will also need to complete the mutual exchange notification form on MyGUHG.
After we receive the request, everyone in the exchange will be invited to complete their application form on MyGUHG.
We’ll need the application form and support information from all parties. Once this has been received, we’ll check the details and your tenancy records to make sure we can start the mutual exchange process.
At the start of the exchange, we’ll book an appointment to inspect your home. This is needed so we can let you know of anything you need to do before the exchange, such as repairs. We’ll also let the incoming tenant know of any additional responsibilities.
An electrical check will also be arranged. Please make sure you are available for this appointment. Let us know if the appointment date doesn’t work for you. We’ll work together to book one that does.
If your exchange partner is not a Grand Union customer, we’ll write to their landlord to request a reference. We will also forward a reference for you to the other landlord.
Examples where permission can be refused include:
- There is a Possession Order on the property or a Notice of Seeking Possession has been served.
- The property is too big or too small for the family wishing to move into it.
- The property has been built under a Section 106 Scheme, where it can only be let to people with a direct connection to the parish and the household wanting to move does not have a connection.
- The landlord is a charity and the proposed new tenants moving into the property would conflict with the objects of the charity.
- The property has special features that make it suitable for occupation by a physically disabled person, or is supported housing for people with special needs, or is for particularly vulnerable people, and if the exchange took place there would no longer be such a person living in the property.
- The tenant or any member of the household has behaved in an anti-social way and action is being taken.
- The property is tied accommodation, for example it’s connected to an employer and is reserved for occupancy by an employee.
- The property is the subject of a management agreement and there are specific arrangements in place that the proposed new tenant is not willing to participate in.
We can attach a condition to any consent and you would be unable to move until the condition was met.
For example, we could give permission subject to you clearing any arrears on the rent account, or completing a repair or other work that you are responsible for. This must be done to our satisfaction and we will carry out an inspection to check this.
We’ll update MyGUHG with any progress. You will get a consent letter when the decision is made. This will give permission, outline any conditions, or give the reason for refusal.
The letter will also tell you about any items you will become responsible for. This means that we may not be responsible for their upkeep or replacement.
If you move without written permission you risk making you and your family homeless. Both you and the person that had moved into your home would become illegal occupants. You would also have no right to move back to your current home as you would have breached the tenancy of that property by giving up possession.
You should contact your exchange partner to agree a date you would like to move and then contact the Relocations team to confirm this.
Please be aware that we will need to make arrangement for a gas and electrical check to be carried out on our property for the mutual exchange start date and therefore you may need to be flexible with dates to allow us to book these appointments in.
The moving date must be on a Monday. Our relocations officer will prepare the necessary paperwork which will be sent to you to digitally sign via DocuSign. You will be asked to sign a Deed of Assignment and you will be given a copy of the tenancy agreement terms and conditions which will explain your tenancy rights. It is important that you read this information
You must agree with the person you are exchanging with about how and when you will swap keys.
We will arrange for gas and electric safety checks to be done on the Monday you move. You must allow our contractors access to carry out these checks.