In this guide
Home swapping could allow you to travel the world, or see different parts of the UK, without spending a lot of money on accommodation.
You have to be comfortable with allowing strangers into your property, but for those looking for a way to economise, home swapping could be the answer.
In this article we explain:
- How do home swaps work?
- What are the benefits of home swapping?
- What are three ways to swap homes?
- How do home-swapping websites work?
- What are the best home-swapping websites?
Related content: 10 cheap travel tips
What is home swapping?
Home swapping is where you stay in someone else’s home for free while, at the same time, allowing them to stay in your place – for free.
The idea was popularised in the 2006 film The Holiday, starring Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz. The two characters switched homes for the Christmas holiday season.
The benefit is that you get access to a place that has all the comforts and amenities of home, while saving hundreds of pounds in hotel or holiday rental fees.
Some people might swap homes for a week or two while others swap for months.
Benefits of home swapping
Aside from saving you money, there are many other benefits of staying in someone else’s home.
These include:
- You can live like a local.
- Any pets can be looked after while you are away.
- If your swap is successful, you may make it a regular arrangement – allowing you to really get to know an area, make long-lasting friendships, immerse yourself in a different culture and maybe even learn a new language.
- A change of scene if you work from home.
- You will have access to a home that will be kitted out with everything a family might need. This also cuts down the amount you might need to pack and buy when you are there.
- You could even save on car rental costs by exchanging cars.
What to be aware of when swapping homes
While the idea of home swapping is great, there are some things you need to bear in mind first.
1. Strangers staying in your home
What puts many people off home swapping is having strangers living in their house.
If you don’t like the thought of someone else sleeping in your bed, home swapping isn’t for you.
2. Damage
Having other people stay in your home means they will have easy access to your belongings and things could get damaged. It’s a good idea to keep your valuables locked away.
If an accident does happen, the two parties will usually come to an informal agreement to pay for damages.
Some websites offer protection in case a guest damages the host’s property. For example when you sign up to the Home Exchange platform, you are giving the company the authority to take up to $500 from your bank account in case you damage a property while you are staying as a guest.
But money is only taken from your account if there are damages to pay for (so it’s not like a deposit you pay for upfront). The company also contacts you before it takes any money.
3. Insurance
Before you exchange, check with your home insurance provider that you are covered for damage or theft by your guests.
It may pay out for damaged goods, but it is unlikely to cover theft as you have invited people into your home and there has been no forced entry.
If you’re shopping for home insurance, here are the top-rated providers.
4. Cancellation
If your host changes their mind at the last minute, you will be left without accommodation and will have to make other arrangements.
Some websites offer insurance to cover travel costs in the event of a holiday home being withdrawn.
5. Location
While there are benefits to being away from tourist hotspots, be aware that the property you visit may be in an unremarkable part of town and there may not be many amenities around.
6. Cleanliness
You and your guests or hosts may have different standards when it comes to cleanliness and housekeeping.
Three ways to swap homes
If you think this might be for you, there are a number of ways to swap homes:
- You could come to an agreement with friends or anyone else you know who is looking to exchange places for a short period.
- There are also Facebook groups where people post home-swapping opportunities.
- But for a more formal arrangement, there are third-party services that have built online communities with thousands of members. These enable you to swap your property for the homes of many other travellers around the world.
We explain how home swapping websites work in the next section.
How home-swapping websites work
A home-swapping website lets you search for available homes for free. But if you want to arrange a home swap, you will be charged a monthly or annual fee to use the service.
Fees are typically around £100 a year, but many websites allow a free trial before you agree to paid membership.
To arrange a home swap through one of these platforms, first you need to register with them and upload details of your own home, including:
- Photos (if you want to entice people to swap, include lots of good photos of your home)
- Location details
- Information about the property such as the number of bedrooms
You can then contact other members on the website to arrange a swap.
Most people who sign up to these services arrange a simultaneous exchange, where two parties do a property swap at the same time. But those with second homes or holiday homes may arrange to swap at different times.
Can I earn points instead of swapping?
Some websites also allow members to earn points: so instead of doing a direct property swap, you could let someone else stay in your place while making your own, separate arrangements for travel accommodation.
In other words, you can earn points by having people to stay in your home while you’re away. These points are held in your online account.
This brings greater flexibility in that people can travel without having to match their plans with another member.
For example, if you have found a fantastic house in your dream location of Sri Lanka but the owners aren’t keen on coming to the UK, you could give them points instead. The hosts of the home you are staying in could then use the points they have accrued through the website to book another home elsewhere.
Here’s how the process works:
- You have let someone come and stay in your home and rather than swapping you have gone on holiday elsewhere
- By doing this, your guests have given you points
- When you want to spend your points, they are transferred to the account of the person who owns the place you want to book
- That person can then use the points elsewhere so their place is empty during the time you want to go there
- Bear in mind that you have to search for homes that are available for a points swap
Love Home Swap and Home Exchange offer a points system but Guardian Home Exchange doesn’t.
How do we exchange keys?
There are a number of ways to exchange keys, such as:
- Leaving the keys with a neighbour, friend or family member
- Sending your guests a spare set of keys in the post
- Installing a key safe near your door and email or text your guests the code
The best home-swapping websites
Below we list some of the best websites for home-swapping:
- Guardian Home Exchange: it costs £35 for six months and £59 for a year. The home swap club also comes with thousands of exchange offers and travel tips from members.
- Love Home Swap: the website has thousands of homes in more than 100 countries. It has three different plans to choose from which are priced between £8 and £12 a month.
- HomeLink: has existed as a company since 1953 and has a world-wide network of home swappers. It costs £115 for a year’s membership and if you don’t arrange an exchange during that time it will offer you a second year for free.
- People Like Us: membership costs $95 (£79) for a year and the website has homes from swappers in more than 100 countries.
All of the above websites offer a free trial period.
‘We’ve always had great experiences of swapping homes’
Jo and Dave Watkins have been house swapping for over ten years.
Jo, a freelance GP and business owner, says it is the most convenient and affordable way for the couple to travel with their four children.
The family live in a five-bedroom house in the seaside village of Mumbles in South Wales. Over the years, they have given up their home in exchange for staying in properties in locations including Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Australia and Canada.
“Home swapping is a great way to have a family holiday at a more affordable price,” says Jo. “As a family of six, staying in hotels or paying to rent a holiday home would be hugely expensive.
“We’ve always had really good experiences. Every time we come back to our house after being away, it’s cleaner than when we left it and guests also leave gifts and thank-you cards.
“Personally, I love people being in our house while we are away, but it’s not for everyone.”
Jo says the key to being a successful home swapper is trust. She also says you need to be proactive, organised and a good communicator.
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