Travel the Home Exchange Way blog

Travel Q&A: I have a lodger, can I still swap my home?

Can you arrange a home swap holiday when you have a lodger?

Q: We have a 4-bedroom house in North London. I've been looking at home swapping as a family holiday option, however there is a problem (or maybe not?)... we have a lodger! Our lodger has lived with us for over a year, he's a muture student in his mid 30s, he's really nice and pretty much keeps himself to himself, although does share the bathroom. Does this ever happen with other members and do you think I'd still be able to arrange a home swap holiday? - Barbara (London, England)

A: What an interesting question! Although I can't recall a Home Base Holidays member ever mentioning taking part in an exchange while having a resident lodger, this doesn't mean it never happens. There could be similar situations where a home may be occupied by a grown up child, housekeeper, etc. during an exchange. Having a lodger won't preclude you from swapping your home but you will need to inform potential home exchange partners - and your lodger!

How well a home exchange will work when a home is occupied probably boils down to common sense, i.e. if the lodger is rarely in or stays mainly in his/her room, doesn't share your living space (other than your bathroom), then there shouldn't be any issues so long as this is discussed your guests prior to agreeing to exchange. And of course this works the other way around too; it's a good idea to discuss this with your lodger and make sure he/she is also happy to have other people staying in the home (if they are a quiet student, they may not want to share their space with people they don't know).

Take care (as you would anyway) in choosing your lodger and in selecting compatible exchange partners (who don't mind that your home will be occupied during their stay) and you should be able to combine the two without problems. In fact, if the lodger and your exchange partners get on, this could actually be a bonus for your guests who may enjoy having a 'local' to show them the area and explain how things work in your house!

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3 Easy Steps for Creating a Home Exchange User Guide

It’s good to anticipate what your home exchange guests might need to know about their home and local area. It can be frustrating to spend your valuable holiday time figuring out how to use the new appliances, how to get hot water from the shower, or where to put the rubbish and recycling.

Putting together a home user guide for your guests not only helps them enjoy their stay, but it conveys a clear message: “We want you to enjoy your stay!”. It has the added benefit of helping to keep you from being bombarded by texts and phone calls while you’re also relaxing on your home swap holiday.

Here are 3 easy steps for creating a great home user guide. Once you’ve written and assembled the guide, all you’ll need to do is update it when something changes.

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Step 1. Decide what “must-have” content to include

Think about what guests need to know to live comfortably in your home and handle any problems that might come up. Must-have content typically includes:

• A short, friendly note welcoming your guests to your home
• The home’s street address and telephone number
• How guests can reach you while they are staying in your home
• The password or code for your security system, if any, and how to turn it and off
• The Wifi password and what to do if it goes down
• Phone numbers for the fire department, police, hospital, pharmacy, and poison control
• Instructions for sorting the recycling, where to put the rubbish and recycling
• What to do if the power goes out, the plumbing backs up, the heater or water heater won’t go on, they lose their keys, or something else serious happens
• Instructions and/or manuals for the appliances, heater/air conditioner, TV, streaming services, sound system, barbecue, and other equipment
• Cautions (“The toilet in the front bathroom backs up easily so be gentle”; “Please do not lock the door between the stairs and the back hall – we don’t have a key”; “the drawer in the kitchen table falls out easily so be careful when you open it”)
• Rules (“Please do not play the TV or music loudly after 10:00 at night”; “Please do not smoke in the house or on the property”; “Please park only in our assigned space, #288”)
• What guests should do when they leave (“Please replace the toilet paper and cleaning supplies”; “Strip the beds and put the sheets in the washer”; “Leave us some milk, eggs, butter, and bread”)

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Step 2. Decide what nice-to-have information to include

A big part of traveling is the fun of exploring a new area, but it’s also nice to have a local’s point of view. Help guests have a great experience by being a “virtual tourist guide,” with suggestions for places they might not find in their travel books.

• Where to shop: supermarkets, farmers’ markets, bookstores, cafes
• How to get around: maps of the area along with bus, train, and ferry information and schedules along with phone numbers for taxi and airport shuttle services
• Where to play: parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, gyms, beaches, golf courses, tennis courts, hiking trails, ski slopes, and other recreational facilities
• Where to eat: a selection of cafes, bars and restaurants they might enjoy

Tip: Collect menus from places you like and leave them for your guests

• What to see: local attractions such as museums, art galleries, nature preserves, sports arenas, universities, and more

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Step 3. Write and assemble your home user guide

Make your home user guide easy to read. Use lists and headings to help guests quickly find specific information. Keep sentences and paragraphs to a minimum. To assemble the guide, you can staple the pages of instructions and suggestions together and put the maps, menus, and brochures in a basket or put everything in a binder or folder with pockets.

Tip: E-mail guests a copy of the written part of the guide so they can look it over and ask questions before they arrive.

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