Recession turns holidaymakers into house swappers

Hard-pressed holidaymakers have found a free way to get away – swapping homes. UKHolidaySwapShop.co.uk, a new website which puts like-minded people in touch to arrange temporary home swaps, has reported a surge of applications from people desperate for a bargain break.

“Britain has been hit hard by the recession, but people still want to get away on holiday,” says co-founder Dave Wiltshire.

Dave and his wife Jackie set up UKHolidaySwapShop.co.uk after spotting a gap in the market. Keen house swappers themselves, they have even put their Welsh home up on the site.

Some of the other properties up for a swap are a 10-bedroom former B&B in Newquay, a two-bedroom flat in North London, a swish Edinburgh apartment, a Grade II-listed stately home in Derbyshire and a picturesque barn conversion in the Cotswolds.

“There are a number of home swapping services around, but they tend to cater to overseas properties,” says Dave.

“We thought it was about time something affordable was set up, so home swappers – or hoppers - in this country could give it a try. People can enjoy a city shopping trip or a family fortnight by the sea – and all for free.”

“Hoppers have been priced out of going abroad because of the value of the pound,” says Jackie.

“But holiday accommodation in this country is getting harder to find because so many people from the EU want to take advantage of the exchange rate.”

Users of UKHolidaySwapShop.co.uk can register and browse homes for free – and full membership currently costs just £14.95 per year.