LHS has launched its HomeSwap Direct mutual exchange scheme. Social housing customers of any LHS scheme using the National HomeSwap Direct search screens will now be able to search nationally for a home to swap with another social housing resident across all participating schemes.

LHS has worked with three other Mutual Exchange providers to help provide the technology that gives social housing customers looking to move a wide range of choice of new home.

Social housing residents in Derbyshire, Cambridge and Kent will immediately enjoy access to the National scheme through their existing LHS mutual exchange systems. However, it is anticipated that more LHS schemes will soon follow their lead, quickly expanding the range of properties available to swap.  

Grant Shapps, the Housing Minister, has welcomed the new initiative. “HomeSwap Direct will give tenants access to a wider range of properties than ever before, and the chance to move anywhere in the country,” he said. 

“I am grateful to LHS for putting the interests of tenants first by developing and participating in HomeSwap Direct and I encourage all landlords to ensure that they are signed up to the new scheme so that their tenants are able to benefit immediately.

 “Tenants looking to swap their social home have for too long been restricted in the houses they have been able to see, meaning they are effectively trapped in their current home, unable to take up new job opportunities or move closer to their family. Tenants looking for longer-distance moves have found it especially hard.

 “No longer will people wanting to move be confined to the back of the queue.  Instead HomeSwap Direct will put their future in their hands, giving them the power to arrange their own home swaps and start a new chapter in their lives.”

Customers of any LHS scheme using the National HomeSwap Direct search screens will be able to search nationally across all participating schemes at the simple click on the “search” button.