Apply To Mutual Exchange

Swap Your Home with Another Tenant

You may be able to carry out a mutual exchange or ‘swap’ with another Cornerstone tenant, or with a tenant from another Registered Social Landlord or local council, subject to certain conditions.

To find someone to exchange with, you can register at HomeSwapper.

Once you’ve found a potential swap, all parties involved must apply to their respective landlords. The process from application to decision can take up to six weeks.

Please note: Do not make any moving arrangements until you have received written confirmation from both Cornerstone and the other landlord that the exchange has been approved. The process may take several weeks to complete.

We will not unreasonably refuse an exchange and we will aim to give a decision on whether the exchange can proceed within 42 days (6 weeks) of the request being made. This time will start when we have received completed forms from both you and your exchange partner.

Both the outgoing and incoming tenant will be required to sign a legal agreement before the mutual exchange is valid.

If Cornerstone refuses an exchange, we will cite the relevant grounds and put this in writing to our tenant.

How to Start the Process

Please email mail@cornerstonehousing.net or write to us with the names and addresses of all parties involved, and we will send all the paperwork to you.

Mutual Exchange Process

Both parties (or multiple parties if more than one swap is happening) need to complete the following forms:
– Cornerstone tenant to complete the following form: Applicant 1 form
– Incoming applicant(s) to complete the following two forms: Applicant 2 form and Budget Planner
– Please note that the incoming applicant will also need to pay a month’s rent in advance prior to the new tenancy start date, if the exchange is accepted.
All parties to send the completed forms to:
Cornerstone House
Western Way
Exeter
EX1 1AL

Under no circumstances must you proceed with the move until you have written authorisation from Cornerstone. If there is any reason to refuse the exchange, Cornerstone will aim to advise you of the reason within six weeks from the date of your application. This time will start when we have received completed forms from both you and your exchange partner.

A property exchange inspection will be arranged with one of our Housing Officers.
References will be sent for the outgoing tenant and requested for the incoming tenant.
Once the above has been completed, we will let you know our decision.

HomeSwapper

HomeSwapper is a service which brings people together who are interested in swapping their homes.

Enter your details at https://www.homeswapper.co.uk  and the site will match you up with other people who want to swap. The website helps you to search, find matches and contact other council or housing association residents who want to swap their homes.

Important Things to Consider:

Add photos:  Make sure to add at least 3 photos of your property on your advert, this will increases your chances of finding a swap and allows other users to see throughout your home.

Include a description:  When you first register with HomeSwapper, you’ll need to answer some questions about your home and the home you want. This creates your home advert and also lets you see homes you might like. The more detail you add to your description, the more your advert will stand out.

Page last updated: 2nd September 2026