Holiday house swapping sweeps the nation

The recession has got Brits hopping mad, with credit-crunched holidaymakers ditching expensive hotels for free house swaps. Membership to house swapping website UKHolidaySwapShop.co.uk has shot up since the site launched in January – and the numbers are still rising.

“The number of members – or ‘hoppers’ as we call them - doubled in February. And that number doubled again in March,” says Jackie Wiltshire, co-founder of UKHolidaySwapShop.co.uk.

“There are now enough properties registered to swap every day for a year.”

The website works by allowing users to browse the country for homes they might like to stay in, and make contact to arrange a temporary swap.

Among the beautiful homes on offer are a two-floor maisonette in Islington, a stunning apartment in Liverpool’s docklands and an elegant townhouse in Glasgow.

“Greater London has the most ‘happy hoppers’ so far,” says Wiltshire.

“But other hopping hot spots include Brighton, York and Edinburgh. And there are plenty of rural retreats on offer too in Devon, Scotland and Kent.”

Browsing and listing you home on UKHolidaySwapShop.co.uk is completely free – the only cost is a £14.95 annual membership fee which allows you to contact other hoppers. But hurry - as from May 1st hoppers will need annual membership to register their home – browsing will still be free of charge.

WHAT KIND OF HOPPER ARE YOU?

1. Shopper Hopper – you can’t resist a good splurge, especially when spending the cash you have saved by home swapping.

2. Hobby Hopper – Your passion takes you all over the country. Whether you love golf, extreme sports or heritage, hopping lets you indulge for free.

3. Hip Hopper – loves nothing better than clubbing, festival-going or bagging the best seats at the theatre.

4. Hungry Hopper – tours the country in search of tasty regional delights, from Kendal mint cake to Cornish pasties.

5. Hush Hopper – you love your home, but also love hopping off every now and then in search of peace and quiet.