Case study: Ria and Sieb Haagsma
How does a holiday with free accommodation sound? Suspicious, probably, but we're not talking timeshare schemes here. House swaps offer a cost-effective place to stay, in the UK and beyond. While you're making the most of someone's beachfront apartment in the Dominican Republic, they could be enjoying your home in Swindon, thanks to the increasing popularity of this type of break.
The idea is simple: you swap your home with someone who lives in a part of the world you want to go to. You fill out an exchange agreement, they come; you go; you water each others' plants; and you get a holiday for next to nothing. It's simple - for some so simple it's scary. If you're a worrier, house swapping probably isn't for you - spending the holiday wondering whether the nice couple's six-year-old twins have set fire to your antique rug is not going to be very relaxing. But if you're willing to go with flow, you could get a lot out of it.
Local knowledge
There are several house swap agencies operating in the UK. Most charge fees, typically ranging from £29 to £99, which they claim dissuades all but the most responsible from joining. Although you can look at members' homes and details on the sites, you can only make contact once you've joined and paid up. The bigger firms have more members based in a wider variety of places, which is good if you're after somewhere off the beaten track; but most have a wide range of locations to choose from. Recent house swaps advertised by online agencies include a four-bedroom house in Brazil with a swimming pool and domestic help, a two-bedroom apartment in New York and a four-bedroom villa on a salt water lagoon by the Red Sea.
The benefits of swapping are many. As well as free accommodation, you get the lowdown on your destination from a local so you'll know where to eat, what to spend, and areas to avoid. If you don't enjoy holidays spent among other tourists you'll appreciate being submerged in the local culture. And you have the advantage of a house full of facilities. For the ideal match, says Jon Connolly, UK agent for Homelink, you should look to swap with others of similar ages, or even interests. "If you've got kids aged eight, 11 and 13, find a family of a similar age group, with toys, and a childproof 'working home', as opposed to say, a retired couple with a pristine house."
Imperfect strangers
Trusting strangers to take charge of your home seems like it should be wrought with problems. What if you return to find the furniture gone and the chinchilla auctioned on eBay? "We have an official complaints procedure so if someone, say sold my Persian cat, their membership would come to an end immediately," says Mr Connolly. Hardly compensation for the loss of a cherished pet, but apparently instances of serious problems are rare. "We tell people to exchange lots of information to avoid problems, says Lois Sealy of agency Home Base Holidays. "Ask lots of questions, get to know the people and research the area you're going to before committing."
Agencies agree that the most common problems spring from different housekeeping standards, but Ms Sealy says even those are rare. "People realise that different standards are par for the course. It's not a five star hotel you're going to, it's a lived-in home. Usually problems are minor." Some agencies have organisers to help with problems - Homelink, for example, has English-speaking agents you can contact when abroad. But Mr Connolly points out that with domestic matters it's easier to call your opposite number in the swap though, since you know the number (it's yours).
Agencies have a policy of weeding out regular offenders. "We have a feedback form and follow up negative comments. If people leave a trail of complaints, they may not be invited to join again," says Mr Connolly. But, he says, people usually find their houses cleaner than when they left. "The fact that you are in someone's house while they're in yours provides a great incentive to look after it, fostering an 'I'll look after yours and I'm sure you'll look after mine' attitude."
Protecting your home
Unfortunately none of the exchange firms offer guarantees or stringent vetting procedures and there's no regulatory body to oversee the industry. So, as Ms Sealy says, it really is up to you to be careful when choosing. You can ask the agency you use for references, and when making final arrangements, reinforce specific rules you mentioned in your agreement form. The more contact you make with potential swap partners, the more you get to know them and the better you can judge whether to swap.
If the worst should happen, where do you stand on insurance? Many insurers are happy the house is occupied while you're gone, but how your cover is affected depends on your provider, so contact them to discuss arrangements. Norwich Union will continue to provide house and contents insurance, including accident cover. "We're quite relaxed really," says Arthur Philip, household underwriting manager. "We accept that people swap, it's quite common. We look at individual cases and if, say, it was a house full of valuables, we'd expect people to take measures to protect them.
Mr Philip says cover will normally continue without a rise in the premiums. "Swapping isn't really a big risk, almost everyone doing it will go through one of the agencies or it will be with people they know so we're happy to continue to provide cover." However, for most insurers, including Norwich Union, a theft claim must be backed with evidence of forced entry. So if the person you've given keys to steals from the house, you won't be entitled to a pay out.
The agencies reckon it's low risk, and many insurers are reasonably happy to provide cover. But if you're going to go ahead with a swap, it's sensible to take precautions. Lock up your breakables, leave your guests with a guide to the house, and let the neighbours know what's going on before you go. Then you can relax and enjoy your break in someone else's home.
Useful links
Home Base Holidays
Homelink International
More on holiday money: www.theguardian.com/money/travel
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