Shropshire holidaymakers who opt for a house-swap this year rather than a more traditional hotel stay must prepare carefully.

Research has shown that 1.6 million families have already arranged a house swap in 2011 rather than planning a conventional break - that's double the number for last year.

And Dave Williams, of Henshalls Insurance Brokers, in Newport and Shrewsbury, said with families feeling the effects of tough budget cuts, this type of holiday was set to become even more popular.

"But although a house-swap may seem to be a convenient and cost-effective solution, it brings with it a real risk of damage to your property or your possessions. So it's vital that homeowners plan properly before they agree terms, as no-one wants to come home to a property that needs expensive and time-consuming repairs."

Dave said Lloyds TSB Insurance had surveyed house-swappers all over the UK, with some surprising and worrying results.

"Almost two-thirds of house-swappers who were interviewed had taken the risk of invalidating their home insurance policy because they had failed to tell their insurer about the exchange.

"And almost a quarter of house-swappers returned to a damaged property, with Lloyds TSB estimating the cost of damage caused by swappers could be over £100 million in 2011."

He said homeowners should make sure they notified their insurer before agreeing to go ahead with a house-swap - and they should not assume the insurer would agree to the deal.

"All insurance policies are different, and some may be happy for you to proceed, but many insurers may take the view that it's too much of a risk and that they are not prepared to cover the arrangement.

"You should also register with a reputable house-swap website which should reduce your risk of attracting possible swappers who may cause problems.

"The stay-cation is an ever-increasing phenomenon thanks to the difficult economic climate we've all been adjusting to, and the house-swap looks set to be the next major trend in holiday options. But make sure you protect yourself and your property before you sign up to a swap - you don't want to ruin your well-deserved break with any nasty shocks when you return."