Shared living has long been associated with students and early-career professionals, but the reality of today’s rental market tells a far more diverse story. As housing costs rise and lifestyle priorities shift, more people are choosing to live with housemates far beyond their twenties. Some of our recent analysis of shared living tenants highlights just how broad the demographic has become. Among 4500 people who are currently living in shared homes, 11.5% are aged 40 or over.
A Changing Picture of the Housemate
The idea that shared housing is primarily a stepping stone for young renters is gradually being replaced by a more flexible understanding of how people choose to live throughout their lives. For many tenants in their 30s, 40s and beyond, shared living offers a balance of affordability, convenience, and social connection that can be difficult to find with the growth of hybrid working.
Data from house sharers suggests that the over-40 demographic reflects this shift, representing a significant and steadily growing part of the shared living landscape. Among this group, men make up a slightly larger proportion of housemates, although participation remains broadly balanced across genders.
Where Is This Shift Most Common?
While shared living among older tenants is a national trend, it is particularly visible in certain cities. Southampton currently stands out as a leading hub for over-40 house sharers, accounting for just over a fifth of tenants in this age group.
London also hosts a substantial proportion of mature housemates, reflecting the capital’s high living costs and diverse rental market. Other cities including Leeds, Manchester, Portsmouth, Coventry, Birmingham, Plymouth, Reading and Oxford all demonstrate notable levels of shared living among older renters, highlighting how widespread the shift has become.
A Growing Part of the Rental Landscape
The presence of older tenants within shared housing highlights how the sector is adapting to modern rental realities. Rising living costs, shifting work patterns, and changing attitudes towards community living are all contributing to a more inclusive and diverse shared housing market. Improvements in property standards, professional management, and the rise of compatibility-focused tenant matching have also made shared living more accessible to a wider range of people. Being able to better understand potential housemates is helping remove some of the uncertainty historically associated with house sharing
While students and young professionals remain an important part of shared living demand, they are now joined by a broader demographic seeking flexibility, affordability, and connection at different life stages.
Shared living has long been associated with students and early-career professionals, but the reality of today’s rental market tells a far more diverse story. As housing costs rise and lifestyle priorities shift, more people are choosing to live with housemates far beyond their twenties. Some of our recent analysis of shared living tenants highlights just how broad the demographic has become. Among 4500 people who are currently living in shared homes, 11.5% are aged 40 or over.
A Changing Picture of the Housemate
The idea that shared housing is primarily a stepping stone for young renters is gradually being replaced by a more flexible understanding of how people choose to live throughout their lives. For many tenants in their 30s, 40s and beyond, shared living offers a balance of affordability, convenience, and social connection that can be difficult to find with the growth of hybrid working.
Data from house sharers suggests that the over-40 demographic reflects this shift, representing a significant and steadily growing part of the shared living landscape. Among this group, men make up a slightly larger proportion of housemates, although participation remains broadly balanced across genders.
Where Is This Shift Most Common?
While shared living among older tenants is a national trend, it is particularly visible in certain cities. Southampton currently stands out as a leading hub for over-40 house sharers, accounting for just over a fifth of tenants in this age group.
London also hosts a substantial proportion of mature housemates, reflecting the capital’s high living costs and diverse rental market. Other cities including Leeds, Manchester, Portsmouth, Coventry, Birmingham, Plymouth, Reading and Oxford all demonstrate notable levels of shared living among older renters, highlighting how widespread the shift has become.
A Growing Part of the Rental Landscape
The presence of older tenants within shared housing highlights how the sector is adapting to modern rental realities. Rising living costs, shifting work patterns, and changing attitudes towards community living are all contributing to a more inclusive and diverse shared housing market. Improvements in property standards, professional management, and the rise of compatibility-focused tenant matching have also made shared living more accessible to a wider range of people. Being able to better understand potential housemates is helping remove some of the uncertainty historically associated with house sharing
While students and young professionals remain an important part of shared living demand, they are now joined by a broader demographic seeking flexibility, affordability, and connection at different life stages.
