An increasing number of tenants are using home-swapping services as a result of welfare reform, according to figures from Housing Partners, the company behind the HomeSwapper mutual exchange platform.
Figures from Housing Partners show that the number of tenants swapping using HomeSwapper has risen by a quarter since April 2013. The data also shows that there are almost 200,000 one- and two-bedroom social housing properties available through HomeSwapper for those wanting to downsize.
Richard Blundell, CEO, Housing Partners, said, “The number of successful swaps has risen from 21,700 for the year ending in April 2013 to 27,200 at the same point this year. Despite reports of a lack of smaller social homes, we have noticed a consistently high number available through HomeSwapper. Of the 300,000 properties registered on the site, there are 55,000 one-bedroom and 140,000 two-bedroom homes, so housing choice is there for people who need to move.
“We believe that housing providers should encourage their tenants to use mutual exchange services more. The benefits are clear for both sides; housing providers can make valuable cost savings by limiting void costs and rent arrears, while tenants can avoid paying for bedrooms they don’t use.”
