Guide to council mutual exchange and home swapping

[gregswinton]

Just to clarify, councils and housing associations have a legal responsibility to give you a decision within and up to 42 days, they dont have a choice it is a legal requirement. Now if they dont give you a decision within this time you legally have the right to exchange without their consent. For free swaps and to place your totally free classified ad go to gdex.co.uk

[sceptical1000]

haha 42 days....I've been waiting for 6 weeks and still no closer to getting a decision on whether I can exchange or not...it seems the Hillingdon council department in question only have one member of staff and she works just two days a week...

[ipropertyswap]

Thanks for your comments.

All councils have a 42 day limit to make a decision as to whether to grant a home swap but many councils aim to give an answer much quicker. (see the ipropertyswap.co.uk website). Compared to selling a house, a home swap move can be quicker and simpler.

There are a number of reasons why a council could refuse a swap (again see the website).

There is always a risk that the exchange may not go ahead but thousands of people successfully swap each year.