The obvious downside to home swapping is that someone else will be living in your home, sleeping in your bed and potentially damaging your property. However, as you are staying in their home at the same time most swaps go without a hitch.
"All the UK agencies we spoke to told us that serious complaints were few and far between. Those they do receive are generally down to incompatible cleaning standards," said consumer group Which? when it looked into holiday exchanges earlier this year.
"If things do go seriously wrong, the agency will act as a go-between. However, the exchange system is based on mutual trust, and the agency bears no legal responsibility. Members may be struck off if it is believed they have broken an agreement, or even abused the system, but that is of little comfort if you have a bad experience."
Another downside of home swapping is that your home insurer may not cover you for accidental damage, theft or vandalism while strangers are staying in your home. Insurer eSure confirms it wouldn't cover your building and its contents if swappers were staying in your home; a view uSwitch says is shared by most, if not all, insurance companies.
"The main reason is that accidental damage cover is there to cover damage to your property by your family and friends – such as wine accidentally being poured onto your television or smashed lighting if a game on the Wii became too animated," says an eSure spokesperson.
"It is not there to cover an eventually that has a definite outcome: if you allow a stranger to use your home then the likelihood of damage is almost certain. Friends and family will take due care in your home and with your belongings. People who don't know you have no reason to treat your personal property as if it were their own."
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