You can only exchange your Housing Executive property if you get the Housing Executive's permission. You can swap your home with another Housing Executive tenant or a housing association tenant.

• Who can I exchange my home with?
  
• How do I exchange my home?
  
• When can the Housing Executive stop the exchange?
  
• What happens next?
  
• How long will it take?
  

Who can I exchange my home with?

You must get the Housing Executive's permission before you can exchange your property. If you get the Housing Executive's permission you can exchange your property with:

• another Housing Executive tenant
• a housing association tenant

You can apply for an exchange even if you don't know who you want to swap your home with. The Housing Executive has a list of tenants who want to swap.

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How do I exchange my home?

You should write to your Housing Executive District Office and ask permission to exchange your home. The Housing Executive must reply within 42 days of your application. If the Housing Executive do not reply within 42 days, please seek further advice.

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When can the Housing Executive stop the exchange?

The Housing Executive can refuse permission to exchange your property if your application falls into one of the following categories:

• the other person has been told by a court to leave their home
• the Housing Executive has started court proceedings against the other person to get possession of the home
• the accommodation is too big for the other person's needs
• the accommodation is unsuitable for the other person's needs
• the accommodation was designed or adapted for a physically disabled person
• the accommodation belongs to a housing association which provides accommodation for people who find it hard to get permanent accommodation. For example, Student Housing Association Co-op (SHAC)
• the accommodation is part of an area for people with special needs which has special services for the people living there

If you have broken the terms of your tenancy agreement the Housing Executive may decide that you can only exchange your property if you agree to do something. For example, if you owe the Housing Executive rent, you will not be allowed to exchange until you have paid your rent.

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What happens next?

What happens next depends on whether you have found someone to swap you home with.

The Housing Executive has 42 days to reply if you have found someone who wants to swap their home. If the Housing Executive agrees to this arrangement, you can start your exchange.

If you want to exchange your home but you don't have a person to exchange with you can give your details to the Housing Executive. The Housing Executive has a list of people who want to exchange their home. The list is updated every month and you can get the list from your local Housing Executive District Office.

Get advice if the Housing Executive says you aren't allowed to exchange your property. You can complain to the Housing Executive.

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How long will it take?

How long the exchange process takes depends on whether you have found someone to swap your home with.

If you have found someone to swap you home with you can start the exchange within 42 days if you get the written consent of the Housing Executive. You will get an acknowledgment letter within 3 days and the Housing Executive usually make the decision within 4 weeks.

There is no time limit on how long you may have to wait for an exchange if you don't have someone to swap your home with. You will have to complete a renewal form each year that you are on the waiting list.

Get advice if the Housing Executive is not allowing you to exchange your home. Advice is available from Housing Rights Service.