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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Homeswapper is a complete joke

70 replies

BedTimeNow · 01/04/2016 18:53

Sorry I posted this on chat earlier and no ones replied I'm guessing all the traffic is on AIBU...

Just want to see if I'm being unrealistic about moving via a mutual exchange.

Are there any other MNetters trying to home swap? I am losing the will to live!

I'm in London but unless you have a 'house with a garden that's not on an estate' no one will swap even if they live on an estate themselves in a small flat with no decorating done in there own homes!

I am trying to move to a different area (still in London) to be nearer to family, but I honestly don't see this happening sad

I even saw an advert last night from someone saying they need a house with stairs as their child is getting teased by their friends as they live in a flat!

Please tell me I'm not alone?

I am on Homeswapper and House exchange are there any other better sites to use?
I'm desperate!

OP posts:

Akire · 01/04/2016 20:52

It's crap! I was on it for years. I live in one bed wheelchair adapted flat I can only swop with someone who has adapted flat and needs my adapted flat.

80% of people who contacted me had adapted home but didn't need it- so didn't qualify for mine.

Or advertised theirs as adapted when this meant they "only" had one or two steps to front door/kitchen/garden. Someone on their steet had a wheelchair so must be ok or was just all on one level but no room to actual turn around in bathroom or kitchen or hall. When I contacted them asking for a second box if you tick the my home is accessible box- so you could list adaption they said no.

I lived after being hare added by someone who wanted my home!

GooseberryRoolz · 01/04/2016 20:52

I was going to ask if it was a particularly high-demand part of London you were looking for, but then I realised there's no such thing as a low-demand part of London now

Akire · 01/04/2016 20:54

That's "I left after being harrased by someone who wanted my home"

duckyneedsaclean · 01/04/2016 20:56

It's a nightmare.

But if anyone wants to swap a 3/4 bed for a 6 bed in East London let me know .

Original poster

BedTimeNow · 01/04/2016 21:11

EKL that is means a lot of people will be missing out on their 'perfect' home even though the elderly people are already in a 2 bed. bloody silly!

Akire that sounds awful, I've read some people can become agressive if you don't want their home. I'm guessing you didn't move.

ducky you shouldn't have a problem you have a house!

Gooseberry that's exactly it you would think people would want to move.

OP posts:

Fugghetaboutit · 01/04/2016 21:22

When are councils going to force people who are underoccupying to downsize?

My mil is living alone in a FOUR BEDROOM HOUSE !!

Akire · 01/04/2016 21:35

Because they don't care.... If you are paying the rent yourself you can be single in a 5 bed no one will worry. If you get help with rent have a one bed and a tiny box room - you are responsible for the housing crisis!

Original poster

BedTimeNow · 01/04/2016 22:16

Akire, exactly.

OP posts:

pandarific · 01/04/2016 22:34

Would it be an idea to start a MN swap thread in property, if there isn't one already? Swappers could post their place there.

duckyneedsaclean · 01/04/2016 22:48

BedTimeNow, you'd think not! It's my parents house, they've been at it for years. Knocking about in that massive house.

vintagerhinestone · 02/04/2016 00:03

I got an exchange from Homeswapper a couple of years ago, from a house in the North to a London flat. I think the flat would have been seen as undesirable to other Londoners as it's on an estate and the local area has some antisocial behaviour, but the location was important to me as it was near my mum and where I grew up. And the area is really central (like walking distance to a zone 1 tube!) and rapidly gentrifying so much better than it was.

I think the family I swapped with were happy to be in a traditional house with large garden and a more suburban setting, they weren't specifically looking at my county but just anywhere out of the big city. So I agree that it's worth looking into multi-way swaps as a pp suggested. I needed to move back to London urgently at the time so I couldn't afford to be too fussy about getting another house. But someone already in London who was looking to move to another part of London would be fussier, even if they needed to go visit family in another part of town they could travel pretty easily, so they wouldn't need to urgently move like I did.

Original poster

BedTimeNow · 02/04/2016 11:44

panda there is a home swap section but it's very very quiet over there.

Shaza thanks I had a look that website, it hasn't had a lot people post some last posted in 2010!

I'm having a bad day feeling really down if there was a way I could move and private rent I really would.

OP posts:

RedRainRocks · 02/04/2016 14:57

Just a point to note for a previous poster - bedroom tax doesn't apply to people of pensionable age - so even if they were going to be under occupying they could still swap to your property ;)

IHaveBrilloHair · 02/04/2016 16:23

No, they can't, they don't have to pay for the extra rooms, nor do they have to downsize, but if they choose to move or swap they can only have the rooms they are now eligible for.

GinAndColonic · 02/04/2016 17:42

If there's one that you like, you message ans they are quiet/not interested - could you offer them money?

You'd spend money going into private rent anyway.

Sorry no idea how it's done, just a thought.

Abed · 02/04/2016 18:22

It's a complete waste of time, we live in a one bedroom bungalow due to my disability but everyone who messages me seems to have a flat on the third floor or a two storey house 100 miles away from the area that we specified, yes I've even said that I need a bungalow because I physically cannot do stairs.

Abed · 02/04/2016 18:25

You aren't allowed to offer money but I think a lot of people do anyway as a sweetener.

CuttedUpPear · 02/04/2016 18:29

I'm in agreement with you OP. I've been on it for 3 years trying to get a serious swap, and 5 years before that just looking.

Did you know there's a homeswap section of MN? however it's just for the landed gentry and not HA scum like us

CuttedUpPear · 02/04/2016 18:33

TBH it's not so much the website that it the problem (now they have actually fixed it) but the PEOPLE that are on it.
Window shoppers almost all of them.

I've had comments like "You're quite rural aren't you?" Yes it says in my listing that we live in a VILLAGE

And "How long does it take you get to the nearest town by car" ...erm...google maps anyone? Because you do have my POSTCODE after all....

LifeofI · 02/04/2016 18:35

i was on there for two years and i lived in a new build estate, i had to make up a white lie to move and get on the transfer list

expatinscotland · 02/04/2016 18:43

It's a complete waste of time.

makingmiracles · 02/04/2016 18:44

Found it a complete waste of time tbh. Just sticking with councils own choice based leggings list that comes out every week as we are so close-always coming in the top 5 bids for properties so hoping it won't be too long.

The gov making it so that over 60s don't have to pay bedroom tax was a very stupid move i think as where I live(semi rural) we have dozens of older people whose kids have moved away and are now occupying 3+4 bed homes on their own. I understand people have lived there sometimes all their lives but this is social housing not privately owned so I really don't think the luxury option of staying put should apply. The fact there is no incentive to move because they don't have to pay for their spare bedrooms means they won't move so are taking up valuable properties that could be used for families that are cramped into 2 beds with 4 children etc.
I do feel if they offered some sort of financial incentive some at least would move, until then it's a case of waiting till they either give them up willingly or die.

IHaveBrilloHair · 02/04/2016 18:45

Gah, yes CuttedUpPear
"Oh, you live in x town"
Well yes, I did say that, I also provided you with a fucking postcode.

"Oh, it's a flat, I wanted a house".
It says it's a flat you fucking chump.

And breathe

AndNowItsSeven · 02/04/2016 18:49

If you join facebook people put swaps on local selling pages. Just search " sell Camden" or wherever and you should find some groups to join.

happyis · 02/04/2016 18:51

It can be done! my parents managed to find a successful swap, changing areas completely! . I'd expected to have to go 3/4 way but in the end, it wS a straight swap. They moved from London to Surrey, 3 bed house on big estate with surprisngly poor transport links for 2 bed maisonette in an amazing area close to shops etc.

It can be done!

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