Northern Ireland Councils
Council House Tenants - Swap Homes for a New Life!
Moving house is one of those things all of us have to do from time to time and it can be an exciting but sometimes incredibly stressful process. If you live in a Council or Housing Authority house, you may apply for a transfer but this can be limiting and you may not like the houses or flats that become available to you. It may also take a long time to move depending on your priority. This can be particularly frustrating if you're a young expanding family and feel cramped in your current situation.
This is where the Council House Exchange scheme can change your life! Council house and housing authority tenants have a legal right to exchange homes with other tenants. It's called mutual exchange and it's not based on a priority basis but is purely an agreement between you and another social housing tenant which gives you much more chance of finding the home that you have always wanted. You will obviously have to apply to your respective landlords for a mutual exchange but they are only allowed to disapprove your application on certain grounds. In general, the house exchange process is very simple and straightforward and you could be in your new house in less than two months!
Home swaps have now become very popular and there are several online Council House Swap Schemes whereby you can buy membership for a very small fee and immediately start house hunting. There are tens of thousands of council houses available throughout the UK to choose from and most of these properties are online for you to browse in the comfort of your own home.
Starting a new life somewhere else can seem an unrealistic dream for many but as a social housing tenant this is an opportunity that is open to you. You can move anywhere throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It will obviously take a bit more work to find a house swap from one end of the country to the other but there will always be someone who wants to do the same and if you're determined enough, you'll find that person.
The dream that many people have of moving from the city to the country or vice versa can really come true if you're prepared to look hard enough. I speak from experience having moved from Worcestershire to London. From deciding to move to actually moving it took just 10 weeks which proves that it can be done!
Whether you want to move closer to family, live in a better area, have a bigger garden or even downsize now that your children have left home, you will be able to find a swap that suits your purpose.
For more information about the whole process including a list of online schemes that you can join, visit www.houseexchanges.org.uk.
Written by Monique Hanford who owns www.houseexchanges.org.uk
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