Why not make some cash from empty rooms?
Is your spare room stuffed with old boxes, extractor fans and broken TVs? Why not make some money and fill it with a person instead?
It's an idea that's occurring to an increasing number of people in Docklands, especially with the Olympics just around the corner.
Several of these people are heading to crashpadder.com, a website which puts hosts in touch with potential short-term guests.
Managing director Stephen Rapoport, pictured, came up with the idea during a trip to the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
And he is hoping it will bear fruit during the London 2012 games, which is expected to boost the number of visitors to the area to 6.6million between 2008 and 2016.
He said: "When I was out in Sydney, I found that every hostel was full, and those that had spaces hiked the prices up.
"A guy I was working with in a bar had a spare room free, and told me to just chuck him £10 to use it. People travel all the time, whether it's business or pleasure.
This service is for people that really want to travel comfortably and cheaply, but don't want to stay in a dorm room."
Visitors to the site sign up by uploading photos and details of their property, and a few details about themselves to make sure they're linked with the right person.
Guests can browse through rooms on offer and specify the facilities they require, whether it's Wi-Fi, a parking space, or just a place to sleep. They submit a request to the site, and hosts can vet them before accepting.
Stephen said: "I think that's important. You don't just want anybody turning up at your house. You have to make sure that the two parties are compatible.
"Our cheapest room in London is £10 per night, and our most expensive is £80. This will range from a sofa bed in a lounge to a double room in Marylebone with an en-suite bathroom, supper, breakfast, wifi and a parking space."
Crashpadder boasts 68 rooms in the Canary Wharf and Olympic area, with two to five being added a week. Between five and 10 requests are received every seven days.
While around half of the rooms are based in London, Crashpadder has hosts in 23 countries, for travellers wishing to save a little on their hotel bills.
Stephen said: "There is a strong London bias. But we have rooms in places like Fiji, Sydney, Cape Town and even a beach hut in Peru.
"In the past, I've stayed in hotels ranging from the bottom end to five-star luxury. But with a site like this available, I couldn't imagine spending that much money on accommodation again."
For more information, go to crashpadder.com.
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