House swapping in the UK

If nothing else, house-swapping means your property gets a thorough spring clean. My husband and I hoovered, dusted and scrubbed our little home, eager that the complete strangers who would be staying there for the weekend would form a favourable impression of it – and therefore of us. It was a bit like preparing for a blind date.

Although house-swapping generally involves an international exchange, our first foray was a more domestic affair: we traded our two-bed flat in north London for a similarly sized apartment in Clifton Village, Bristol. The trip was organised through the Luxe Home Swap agency, which began operating in January. As well as more traditional house-swaps around the world, it offers the chance to enjoy British mini-breaks this way, too.