Housing Options in Westminster

Mutual Exchange and Mobility Schemes

If you are a secure Westminster Council tenant or an assured tenant of a housing association, you can exchange your property with another tenant living elsewhere. If you do not have high priority for a move under our Choice based Lettings scheme or you wish to move out of Westminster, this may offer you a better way of finding another home.  

Homeswap 

To help you swap, the government has set up HOMES, a website showing thousands of properties occupied by tenants who are interested in swapping. If you register for Homeswap, not only will you be able to look for possible swaps on the website, HOMES will look for people whose homes meet your requirements and who might be interested in swapping with you. If there are any they will send you the details.

Ask your housing officer 

You can also look for swaps at your local housing office; just ask for the Homeswap list. Unless you ask HOMES not to do so, your details will be displayed on their website and on Homeswap lists in the areas you have chosen.

How to register

You can register online. If you don’t have internet access you can phone them to register on 0845 606 6161 (calls charged at local rate). Alternatively you can ask your local estate office or the Housing Options Service.

There are some restrictions on swapping. Importantly, you must get permission from your landlord before going ahead with a swap; if you don’t, you could lose your home.

Other mobility options

Some other websites offer assistance with finding a person to swap your home with:

UKHomeSwap

Exchange UK

Exchange Your Home