The Guinness Partnership has signed up with Homeswapper, which is a national, internet-based, mutual exchange website.  This website was set up in 2007 to offer a quick and easy solution for residents of council and housing association properties across the UK who wish to move to another area.

How does it work?

Homeswapper is the UK’s largest database of people looking to swap homes.  Any council or housing association resident can register the details of their property, including a photograph, and state where they wish to move to.  You can then search for swap partners straight away.  The Homeswapper service will also search daily on your behalf and can send alerts via text or e-mail if they find a potential match.

How successful is it?

Because Homeswapper covers the whole of the UK, there are literally thousands of potential swaps, and there are over 1500 tenants joining or renewing their membership each week.  Two out of three people get a match within 24 hours of joining the site.

Do residents have to pay for registration on the website?

No, you don’t.  If you register independently, then normally you would need to pay an annual fee.  However, the Guinness Partnership has made enough savings through negotiating Partnership membership with other bodies, to be able to pay for the annual subscription on behalf of all our customers.

So when and how can I sign up?

From now! If you have access to the Internet you can register your details yourself. You will need to have a mobile phone or email address to receive updates of potential exchanges through Homeswapper; otherwise you will not receive any updates of potential exchanges.

What if I don’t have internet access?

If you don’t have internet access, you can either visit a local library if computers are available for you to use there. Alternatively, if you don’t have access to a computer, you can contact your local office, who can register details on your behalf. 

What if I have already signed up to a mutual exchange scheme?

If you are currently signed up to another mutual exchange scheme, you should still register for Homeswapper separately, as your details will not automatically be transferred across.

So, what next?

Visit http://www.homeswapper.co.uk/ and click on ‘Join’- this will ask you for some details about where you live now and what you are looking for. When prompted, you will need to type in the name of your landlord, for example Guinness Northern Counties and the website will recognise that this is a Guinness Partnership company.

You can browse available swaps without registering, but you will need to register if you see a swap that you are interested in.