Yes it does happen! But you're right that 1-bed to 2-bed is the hardest direction because most people want to upsize not downsize.
I swapped from a 2 bed house to a 3 bed house (it was more the area I wanted, Im actually under occupying the 3 bed house, the landlord allowed as I could prove I could afford the rent from my wages). BUT, we also did a 4 way swap (chain swap).
theres lots of guides online for multi swaps.
https://homeswapping.co.uk/guides/how-swap-chains-work or https://homeswapping.co.uk/guides/three-way-home-swap-step-by-step
The people who DO want your 1-bed are typically:
- Older tenants whose kids have left and they're rattling around in a 2-bed paying bedroom tax
- People who've separated and need somewhere smaller
- Single people in a 2-bed being hit by the 14% bedroom tax who'd rather save that money
Tips that actually helped people I know in your situation:
Make your listing work harder. Even though it's small, sell what it IS:
- Lower rent than a 2-bed (mention the actual figure — someone paying bedroom tax will notice)
- Bills are cheaper in a smaller place
- If it's a newer build or recently decorated, shout about it
- Good location? Transport links? Near schools? List everything
Widen your search area. I know that's not what you want to hear but the more areas you'd accept, the more downsizers become available. Even a couple of extra miles makes a difference.
Consider a 3-way chain. This is the thing that most people don't realise. You might not find someone who wants YOUR flat directly. But you might find someone in a 2-bed who wants to move to a different area, and someone in THAT area who wants a 1-bed. Everyone gets what they want through a chain. It sounds complicated but it's actually how a lot of successful swaps happen.
List on everything. Facebook groups are good but posts disappear fast. Are you on HomeSwapper? Also homeswapping.co.uk has recently started doing swap listings alongside their advice guides — they've got a match percentage feature that shows you who's actually compatible rather than scrolling through hundreds of posts hoping someone wants a 1-bed. It's all free at the moment. The more places you're listed, the better your odds.
Don't lose hope — with a one year old in a cramped 1-bed you've got a genuine need and any decent landlord will see that. It might take a bit longer than you'd like but it DOES happen. Keep bumping, keep listing, and set up email alerts everywhere you can so you don't miss anything.