Swapping

If you want to move house, you might be able to swap with another public housing tenant. This is called a mutual swap. The mutual swap service is easy to use and it may help you move without having to wait for a property through a normal transfer.

Eligiblility

To be eligible for a mutal swap, you must meet all of the general housing eligibility criteria. This means you must:

• not exceed the current general public housing income and asset limits
• not own or part own a house, unit or flat
• are an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• have paid back any money you owe to us
• haven?t been evicted as a public housing tenant or resident for non-arrears tenancy breaches in the last 12 months

You can apply for a mutual swap at any time. After your mutual swap happens, you have to wait at least a year before you can swap again.

You also need to be eligible for the size of property you want to move to. When working out the size of the property you are eligible for, you can only include people who?ve lived with you for at least six months.

The six month rule doesn?t apply if there?s been an increase in the number of dependents in your household or if a person moves into your household because they receive ongoing care.

You can choose to swap to a property anywhere in Victoria. You have to accept the property you move to without any of the usual maintenance work we do between tenants.

Applying for a mutual swap

If you meet the eligibility criteria, you can let other tenants know you?re interested in swapping properties by completing the mutual swap interest form (Word Size 31KB, Pages 2).

The mutal swap interest form will require you to provide details about your current public housing property, like the location, type (high rise, house or unit), cladding (concrete or brick) and number of bedrooms. You will also need to provide details or requirements for the property you?d like to swap to, and your name and telephone number.

The form also asks for your permission to share the information you give with other tenants who are interested in swapping. You don?t have to give permission, but if you don?t, it will be hard for other tenants who might want to swap with you to contact you.

Finding a swap

Your local housing office has a list of everyone in Victoria who is interested in swapping properties.

Your details will be put on this list and may be given to other tenants interested in swapping, so that they can contact you (if you?ve given permission for this to happen). You may also be given details of other tenants who are interested in swapping to the type of property or place where you live.

You can then find another tenant to swap with.

When you find someone you?d like to swap with, it?s up to you and the other person to arrange to see each other?s properties and make sure that the property meets your needs.

Approval to swap

When you have agreed to swap properties, each tenant must get permission from their local Housing Office for the swap to take place.

Your local housing officer will make sure you are eligible for the swap, and will arrange to inspect your current property. If there are any maintenance charges or outstanding amounts to be paid, you will need to pay these straight away, before the swap can go ahead.

When your mutual swap is approved, you?ll be asked to sign a new tenancy agreement for your new property. You?ll be asked to do this on the same day as the tenant you?re swapping with.

If you?re swapping to a property that is managed by another local housing office , you will need to arrange with that office to sign the new tenancy agreement.

Waiting times

A mutual swap depends on you being able to find a property and person to swap with. Because tenants must agree between themselves to swap properties, no guarantee can be given about how long it will take for you to swap houses with another tenant.

Contact your local housing office to find out more about applying for a mutual swap.