Swap your home
You can swap your home with another person if you both have a secure tenancy with us, the Scottish water authority or any other local authority of housing association.
You may know of a suitable home already or you can search for one using Homeswapper. This is free for Midlothian Council tenants.
Once you have found a home you must apply for permission from your landlord, and the landlord of the other person. Once all tenants have applied, we aim to complete the process within 28 days.
You can apply by post using the mutual exchange application form (PDF) or pick one up from Fairfield House, 8 Lothian Road, Dalkeith, EH22 3AA.
Conditions for swapping your home
- All homes involved must be of a suitable size and meet the housing needs for both households, as defined by our Housing Allocation Policy.
- All tenants must not have rent arrears or other debt associated with renting a home.
- All tenants must keep their home and garden to a standard acceptable to Midlothian Council.
- All tenants must not have any instances of antisocial behaviour.
- All tenants must stay in the new home for at least 6 months from the date of the exchange unless both households ask to return to their original homes and both landlords agree to this.
- All tenants must not make any alterations or improvements or remove any fixtures and fittings from your home until we have inspected the properties involved.
Grants to move
To encourage and assist Midlothian Council tenants to meet their own housing needs, we provide a grant of £250 to any Midlothian Council tenant who moves to another property as a result of a mutual exchange.
To increase the availability of larger properties for families we also offer grants to Midlothian Council tenants who wish to move to a smaller property owned by the Council by a mutual exchange. The grant is only payable to those moving from a three bedroom property or larger.
- Downsize by 1 bedroom - £1000
- Downsize by 2 or more bedrooms £1500
Any tenants with an outstanding debt owed to Midlothian Council will have this offset against any grant before any payment is made.