Shapps: HomeSwap Direct searches set to hit 1.5 million

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Central Government, Communities

Housing minister Grant Shapps has announced that searches on the HomeSwap Direct website are set to hit 1.5 million.

However, the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) remains reticent about the amount of people who have successfully managed to swap homes.

HomeSwap Direct, which launched in 2011, allows social tenants to look outside the service provided by their own landlord and be given a choice about where they live. With the scheme being online, it has made advertised swaps more accessible for all tenants.

The site is now reportedly getting 6,000 hits a day.

The CLG's website offers three examples of swap successes but no solid figures.

Shapps said: "For years, social tenants were stuck in the ridiculous situation where they didn't have the same freedom of choice as everyone else and could only swap homes with those using the same service as their landlord - or face competition from those higher up the waiting lists.

"HomeSwap Direct has challenged this lazy consensus that trapped people in their homes. Instead, tenants are taking power back to arrange their own home swap by viewing properties available not just in their neighbourhood, but across the whole country.

"And with nearly 6,000 searches every day, and nearly 1.5million since the its launch, this successful scheme is clearly opening doors that were simply closed to social tenants, giving them a chance to improve their job prospects, live closer to family or simply move to a home better suited to their changing needs."