Find out how you can mutually exchange your council home with another council tenant
Hackney Council tenants interested in swapping their home with another social housing tenant are being invited to a special event in June to explain how the process works.
The Jack Dunning Community Hall, Homerton Row, E9 6ED, will host a Mutual Exchange Fair between 3pm and 7pm on Thursday 6 June. At the event people will be able to get information on the national Mutual Exchange scheme and how it could benefit them.
There are currently more than 8,300 households on the Council’s housing register and it can take around three years for a one-bedroom home to become available for those on the register – and nine years for a two-bedroom flat.
Rather than waiting for a transfer the most popular option for those looking to move is through Mutual Exchange. This is suitable for those living in social housing wishing to upscale or downsize their home in an area outside or inside Hackney
Between January and December 2022 a total of 49 mutual exchanges took place. At the upcoming event, people will be able to discuss with experts how the scheme may work for them and the process if they find a successful exchange partner.
There are also a range of other options available for council tenants looking to move
- Choice Based Lettings - allowing people to search, apply and bid for social rented homes in their area
- Seaside & Country Homes - a Mayor of London scheme helping tenants aged 60 and over move to other parts of the country.
- Downsizing - providing Council tenants the opportunity to be paid for moving from homes with more bedrooms than they need to smaller homes in Hackney
- Fresh start - supporting people wanting to move out of London and get paid for moving to a smaller home from an under occupied one.
There are also renting in the private sector, shared ownership schemes, and Help to Buy initiatives. More information can be found at https://hackney.gov.uk/affordable-homes
People can also contact Housing Advice team on 020 8356 3330 or by emailing neighbourhood@hackney.gov.uk
People attending will also be able to talk to officers from a range of other Council services including housing management, income and financial inclusion, and customer services.
With the chronic shortage of affordable homes, it can be difficult for people in social housing to have the opportunities to move to a potentially more suitable home.
We are doing all we can to ensure there are more homes available, as well as hosting events like this so people can find out more about other options available
Cllr Sade Etti, Deputy Cabinet Member for Housing Needs and Homelessness
Many of the people living in our homes are looking to move to a new home as their families change and the Mutual Exchange scheme is sometimes the best way of helping them do just that.
There is a wealth of options available and I would urge anyone who is interested in swapping their home to come along and find out more.
Cllr Clayeon McKenzie, Cabinet Member for Housing Services and Resident Participation