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Our Guide to Your Mutual Exchange (MEX)

  • The first 2 pages are for your information, keep them in case you have any questions
  • Fill in pages 3-6 and return them straight away in the enclosed pre-paid envelope

Read this information carefully, it’s really important that you understand it

Call Yarlington First on 01935 404500 or email if you have any questions

  1. All Yarlington tenants will not normally be allowed to mutually exchange if they have any rent arrears. Talk to your Community Co-ordinator if you have any questions about this
  1. Tenants moving into a Yarlington property (including existing Yarlington tenants) will need to pay 4 weeks rent before signing any tenancy/transfer agreement if they are full rent payers. Those receiving any housing benefit must pay 2 weeks rent and make a formal plan topmay the remaining 2 weeks rent over the next 26 weeks. If you are already a Yarlington resident any credit on your existing rent account will go toward this.
  1. Remember that we will take identification photographs of all tenants to assist in the prevention of identity fraud
  1. If you currently have a Right to Buy and are leaving Yarlington you may lose this benefit – check with your new Landlord to see if you will still qualify
  1. If you currently live in a property owned by a Council or another Housing Association please note that you will not have a Right to Buy when moving into a Yarlington home. Instead, you will have a Right to Acquire – just ask us if you are not sure what this means for you
  1. The type of tenancy that you have could change. We will talk to you about this and make sure you understand and are happy with your new tenancy before the exchange goes through
  1. Remember that your new home property in the condition in which you find it and it is your responsibility to inspect the property thoroughly and make sure you are happy to move before you hand over your keys – make sure you agree with your exchange partner exactly how they will be leaving the property and who will be responsible for any outstanding repairs or rubbish
  1. The tenant moving out of the property is responsible for removing all rubbish from the premises – Yarlington will not do this
  1. You must not assume that Yarlington will take responsibility for carrying out any work. Yarlington will not be responsible for repairing faults or renewing systems found to be faulty after the exchange has taken place unless there is a legal obligation to do so
  1. If the previous (outgoing) tenant has altered the property in any way then the new (incoming) tenant will become responsible for all future maintenance of the alteration if the exchange takes place. You will be asked to sign a disclaimer to confirm this
  1. All alterations to the property must be approved in writing by Yarlington before being carried out and we recommend that Yarlington tenants tell their swap partner about any alterations that have been made to the property before agreeing the exchange and show a copy of the letter in which Yarlington approved the alteration
  1. Tenants should check that they are not expected to take over any agreements regarding the payment of windows or double glazed units put in by the previous tenant or any alteration made under the Green Deal scheme. Yarlington is not able to take on responsibility for such costs
  1. If you have any questions or are unsure about the exchange you should contact your Community Co-ordinator
  1. Your application form will be scanned and the information held electronically: all information will be kept securely; submitting your application implies your permission for us to do this and to share information with any partner organisations that Yarlington Housing Group deems reasonable
  1. Yarlington will carry out enquiries concerning the conduct of our tenancy (including rent account) and any support issues which you may have; submitting your MEX application implies your permission for your Landlord to provide this information

About the Mutual Exchange Process

MUTUAL EXCHANGE APPLICATION FORM

About Me

Applicant 1 / Applicant 2
Mr/Mrs/Miss
First Names
Surname
Address / House No/Street
Town
Postcode
Date of Birth
National Insurance Number
Nationality (see below)
Marital Status
Sexuality / HETR LESG BISE OTH PNTA / HETR LESG BISE OTH PNTA
Religion
Telephone Numbers – Please tick the best number to get you on
Tel No: Home
Tel No: Mobile
Tel No: Work
E-mail address
Employment Status (Circle) / FullTime/PT/Unemployed/Retired/Student / Full Time/PT/Unemployed/Retired/Student
Next of Kin/Emergency Contact
(Name & Address)
Health: Are you claiming DLA/PIP or Attendance Allow? If yes - details / Yes/No / Yes/No
Have you been a Yarlington or South Somerset Homes Tenant before – if so where? / Would you like your post to go to another address– if so where?

About My Home

Landlords Name & Address ( if not Yarlington Housing Group) / Telephone No:
Email
Is there a named person you deal with – if so who? / Telephone No:
Email
Have you lived in any other Council or Housing Association property? Tell us where & when (month & year)
At…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. from…………to…………..
At ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… from…………to…………..
Please check all the boxes below that apply to your current accommodation (and garage if applicable)
House / House – separate dining room / Terraced / Maisonette / Bungalow / Flat / Studio Flat
Ground Floor / First Floor / 2nd Floor or above / How many bedrooms?
Is this sheltered accommodation? / Yes / No / Do you rent a Yarlington garage? / Yes/No
List any disabled adaptations in your current home and tell us about any you will need in your new home if the exchange goes ahead
What type of tenancy do you have? / Secure / Assured / Fixed Term / Assured Short Hold

About My Family

Make sure everyone who will be regularly living in the property is listed on this form. Please be sure to include any children that you have arranged regular sleepover access to. Print all names in BLOCK CAPITAL LETTERS

Surname / Forenames / DOB / National Insurance Number / Relationship
(Husband /Wife/
Daughter/Son etc)
Main Applicant
Is anybody who is moving with you pregnant? YES / NO When is the baby due? DATE:

Have you or any of the people who need to be rehoused with you ever been convicted of a criminal offence or convicted or cautioned for offences under The Sex Offenders Act 1997 or the Children and Young Persons Act 1933?’ (This includes offences committed outside the UK)

Yes/No ( please circle)
Please give details
Give details of any pets that will be moving with you – 2 pets are normally allowed, but no cats & dogs are allowed in a flat or maisonette unless you have your own front door
Quantity / Type e.g. Dog, Cat , Bird / Breed / Size (small/medium/large)

About My Swap Partner

Name :
Address:
Tel No. / Email
House / Bungalow / Maisonette / Studio Flat / Flat
How many bedrooms in the property? / Is this sheltered accommodation? / Yes / No
How many properties are involved in this exchange?
Tell us how you found your mutual exchange
HomeFinder Website / Home Swapper
Website / Yarlington Website / Yarlington MEX Officer / Yarlington Chat / Yarlington MEX Day
Yarlington
Community
Co-ordinator / Friends/ Relatives / Facebook / Word of Mouth / Other -
tell us how
Tell us why you want to move
Downsize due to household size / Relocation for work / Nearer to family/carer or friends / Medical or health reasons / Better/nicer Location
Downsize due to bedroom tax or welfare reform / Nuisance or neighbour problems / Financial reason – not bedroom tax / Larger property needed / Other
– tell us why

When I Hope To Move

The law says that Yarlington needs to make the decision if you can mutually exchange or not within 42 Days, but this may not mean that you can move within 42 days. We always aim to make a decision as soon as we can. You can help by

  • replying to letters and telephone calls quickly
  • making sure we have your correct contact details

If the exchange is approved, when would you like to move?

It’s really important that you read and understand this information

Call Yarlington First on 01935 404500 or email if you have any questions

  1. All Yarlington tenants will not normally be allowed to mutually exchange if they have any rent arrears. Talk to your Community Co-ordinator if you have any questions about this
  1. Tenants moving into a Yarlington property (including existing Yarlington tenants) will need to pay 4 weeks rent before signing any tenancy/transfer agreement if they are full rent payers. Those receiving any housing benefit must pay 2 weeks rent and make a formal plan to may the remaining 2 weeks rent over the next 26 weeks.. If you are already a Yarlington resident any credit on your existing rent account will go toward this.
  1. Remember that we will take identification photographs of all tenants to assist in the prevention of identity fraud
  1. If you currently have a Right to Buy and are leaving Yarlington you may lose this benefit – check with your new Landlord to see if you will still qualify
  1. If you currently live in a property owned by a Council or another Housing Association please note that you will not have a Right to Buy when moving into a Yarlington home. Instead, you will have a Right to Acquire – just ask us if you are not sure what this means for you
  1. The type of tenancy that you have could change. We will talk to you about this and make sure you understand and are happy with your new tenancy before the exchange goes through
  1. Remember that your new home property in the condition in which you find it and it is your responsibility to inspect the property thoroughly and make sure you are happy to move before you hand over your keys – make sure you agree with your exchange partner exactly how they will be leaving the property and who will be responsible for any outstanding repairs or rubbish
  1. The tenant moving out of the property is responsible for removing all rubbish from the premises – Yarlington will not do this
  1. You must not assume that Yarlington will take responsibility for carrying out any work. Yarlington will not be responsible for repairing faults or renewing systems found to be faulty after the exchange has taken place unless there is a legal obligation to do so
  1. If the previous (outgoing) tenant has altered the property in any way then the new (incoming) tenant will become responsible for all future maintenance of the alteration if the exchange takes place. You will be asked to sign a disclaimer to confirm this
  1. All alterations to the property must be approved in writing by Yarlington before being carried out and we recommend that Yarlington tenants tell their swap partner about any alterations that have been made to the property before agreeing the exchange and show a copy of the letter in which Yarlington approved the alteration
  1. Tenants should check that they are not expected to take over any agreements regarding the payment of windows or double glazed units put in by the previous tenant or any alteration made under the Green Deal scheme. Yarlington is not able to take on responsibility for such costs
  1. If you have any questions or are unsure about the exchange you should contact your Community Co-ordinator
  1. Your application form will be scanned and the information held electronically: all information will be kept securely; submitting your application implies your permission for us to do this and to share information with any partner organisations that Yarlington Housing Group deems reasonable
  1. Yarlington will carry out enquiries concerning the conduct of our tenancy (including rent account) and any support issues which you may have submitting your application implies your permission for your Landlord to provide this information
Tenants Declaration

I/we understand that I/we am/are applying to assign my/our tenancy by way of mutual exchange and that I/we will not be able to move until all necessary documents and appropriate safety checks are completed.

I/we confirm that I/we have read the above notes, which I/we understand and accept. I/we declare that the answers I/we have given to the questions asked overleaf are correct.

I/we understand that this form will be scanned and the information held electronically: all information will be kept securely. I/we understand that in submitting this form I/we give permission to store my/our information and to share it with any other partner organisations that Yarlington Housing Group deems reasonable.

I understand that Yarlington Housing Group will need to carry out enquiries concerning the conduct of my tenancy (including my rent account) and any support issues which I may have. I give my permission and consent for Yarlington Housing Group to obtain any relevant information about me from my landlord and all relevant agencies.

Name / Signature
Tenant 1
Tenant 2
Date:

Remember, where a joint tenancy exists, both tenants MUST sign

My Checklist

I have filled in all sections of the form

I have kept pages 1 and 2 to answer any questions that I have

I have sent pages 3-6 back to Yarlington straight away in the pre-paid envelope given to me

Yarlington Housing Group, Lupin Way, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 8WN

t.01935 404500 f.01935 404505

Registered in England No: 3488535 Registered Address: Yarlington Housing Group,
Lupin Way, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 8WN