Fair Exchange

The renovation of a sophisticated London home gave Matthew and Patricia Allen a tempting pied-a-terre to offer to their fellow international house-swapping fans.

- Ali Heath

There is a new property trend that is becoming increasingly popular with young professional families looking to enjoy the freedom of global travel and the ability to work from anywhere in the world – international house swapping. For American couple Matthew Allen and his wife Patricia, this concept has become an integral part of how they choose to live.

‘We’ve been in the UK for 10 years,’ says Matthew. ‘I’m from California and Patricia is from Chicago, but we met while working in London. We both love to travel and have enjoyed house exchanges abroad since we got married. With two young children – Theo, 2, and Noa, 3 months, we’re keen to make the most of the opportunity while they’re still preschool age. Immersing ourselves in the culture of somewhere new and experiencing the authentic charm of living like a local in a real home, not a hotel, whether that be for two weeks or six months, is something we really enjoy.’