Sublet, transfer or exchange your council or housing association home
There are rules you must follow before you can:
- add a new joint tenant
- transfer the tenancy to someone else – called assigning the tenancy
- swap your home with another tenant
- rent out all or part of your home
Before you can do these things, you must:
- have been living in the property for at least 12 months
- get written permission from the council or housing association
Check if someone qualifies to become a tenant
If you're adding a joint tenant or assigning the tenancy to someone else, the new tenant must meet a ‘residency requirement’.
To meet a residency requirement, all the following must apply:
- they’re already living in the property as their only home
- you told the council or housing association in writing that they’ve moved in
- at least 12 months have passed since the council or housing association were told
Swapping your council or housing association home
You can swap your home with another tenant. This is called a mutual exchange.
You can swap with a tenant of any council or housing association in Scotland. They do not have to have the same landlord as you.
You and the other tenant must both get written permission from the council or housing association before swapping homes.
The new tenant does not need to meet a residency requirement.
Applying to sublet, transfer or exchange your tenancy
Contact the council or housing association to check how to apply.
You may need to fill out a form.
If you cannot apply for a mutual exchange, you can apply for housing with a different council or housing association.
When the council or housing association can refuse permission
The council or housing association can refuse permission for certain reasons. These include:
- you’re being evicted
- you’re receiving a payment in exchange
- you’re charging a subtenant or lodger too much rent or deposit
- the property would become overcrowded if someone else moves in
- the property would be under-occupied if you assigned it
- the property has adaptations or designs that the new tenant does not need