Clients register on the Swap Homes website with details of the kind of house they are looking for, then the site searches estate agencies for matching properties.

Peter Cooke came up with the idea after seeing so many frustrated home buyers in his job as a financial adviser.

He told icBirmingham:

"Ironically the first swap we made was an estate agent selling her own house - it's all about putting people in touch with others who are in a similar position."