Terms of Service

Please read these terms carefully before using SwapKey. By creating an account or using the platform, you agree to be bound by these terms. If you do not agree, do not use SwapKey.

These terms constitute a legal agreement between you and SwapKey Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales (“SwapKey”, “we”, “us”).

1. What SwapKey is

SwapKey is an online platform that helps UK council and housing association tenants find potential mutual exchange (home swap) partners. SwapKey provides tools for listing properties, finding matches, messaging other tenants, and tracking the progress of exchange applications.

SwapKey is a marketplace only. We are not a party to any mutual exchange agreement. We do not act as a housing intermediary, letting agent, or landlord. We do not approve or process exchange applications on behalf of any council or housing association. All decisions regarding whether an exchange is approved remain with your respective landlords.

2. Eligibility

You may use SwapKey only if:

• You are 18 years of age or older
• You are a current tenant of a council or housing association property in the United Kingdom
• You have the legal right to apply for a mutual exchange under your tenancy agreement
• You are not prohibited from using the service by applicable law

By registering, you confirm that you meet these eligibility requirements.

3. Your account

You are responsible for:

• Keeping your login credentials secure and confidential
• All activity that occurs under your account
• Notifying us immediately at hello@swapkey.io if you believe your account has been compromised

You may only create one account. Creating multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions or bans is not permitted.

4. Listing your property

When you create a listing, you confirm that:

• You are the current tenant of the property you are listing
• The information you provide (address, property type, features, photos) is accurate and not misleading
• You have the right to apply for a mutual exchange under your tenancy agreement
• The property is not subject to any legal prohibition on exchange
• Photos you upload are of your actual property and do not infringe any third-party rights

False or misleading listings are strictly prohibited and may result in immediate account suspension and referral to your landlord.

5. Messaging and conduct

When using SwapKey’s messaging features, you agree not to:

• Send spam, unsolicited commercial messages, or repeated unwanted contact
• Harass, abuse, threaten, or discriminate against other users on the basis of any protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010
• Request or offer any payment, gift, or benefit in connection with an exchange (mutual exchanges must be on a like-for-like basis — any payment arrangement is illegal under the Housing Act 1985)
• Share another user’s personal information outside of SwapKey without their consent
• Use the platform for any purpose other than finding and arranging mutual exchanges
• Attempt to circumvent any security or access control features

6. Mutual exchange applications

When you use SwapKey to start a formal swap application, you understand that:

• Both parties must obtain written approval from their respective landlords before any exchange can take place
• Your landlord may refuse the exchange on prescribed grounds under Section 92 of the Housing Act 1985 or the Localism Act 2011
• SwapKey has no influence over your landlord’s decision
• You should not give notice to vacate your current property until written approval has been received from both landlords
• SwapKey is not liable for any loss arising from a refused, delayed, or cancelled exchange

7. Prohibited content

You may not upload, post, or transmit through SwapKey any content that:

• Is false, misleading, or fraudulent
• Infringes any intellectual property right
• Contains malware, viruses, or harmful code
• Is defamatory, obscene, or offensive
• Violates any applicable law or regulation

We reserve the right to remove any content that violates these terms without notice.

8. SwapKey’s role and limitations

SwapKey provides the platform “as is”. While we work hard to keep the service reliable, we do not guarantee:

• That you will find a suitable swap partner
• That any exchange you agree to will be approved by your landlord
• Uninterrupted or error-free access to the platform
• The accuracy of match scores (these are indicative only)

To the fullest extent permitted by law, SwapKey’s liability to you for any claim arising from use of the platform is limited to the amount you have paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim (which for free-tier users is £0).

Nothing in these terms excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, or for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.

9. Intellectual property

The SwapKey platform, including its design, code, and content, is owned by SwapKey Ltd. You may not copy, modify, or distribute any part of the platform without our written permission.

By uploading photos or other content to SwapKey, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use, display, and store that content for the purpose of operating the platform. You retain ownership of your content.

10. Suspension and termination

We may suspend or terminate your account if you:

• Breach these terms
• Provide false information
• Engage in fraudulent or abusive behaviour
• Are no longer eligible to use the platform (e.g. you are no longer a social housing tenant)

You may delete your account at any time from your profile settings. Deletion is permanent and your listing will be removed within 24 hours.

11. Changes to the service and these terms

We may update these terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by email or through the platform with reasonable notice before changes take effect. Continued use of SwapKey after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

We may also modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the platform at any time. We will give reasonable notice where possible.

12. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

13. Contact

If you have any questions about these terms, contact us at:
SwapKey Ltd
Email: hello@swapkey.io