General Chat

The number of pensioners taking in lodgers to help them make ends meet has soared by more than two-thirds during the past year, research has shown.
House-share website Spareroom.co.uk said it had seen a 69% increase in the number of people aged over 65 looking to let a room during the past 12 months, with more than 150 new adverts posted by this age group on its site each month.
Matt Hutchinson, director of Spareroom.co.uk, said: "Pensioners have been hit particularly hard by the recession, especially those who only have a state pension to live on and rely on their savings to survive."
He continued: "But with savings rates at all-time lows, many retirees are literally living from hand to mouth every month.

"With the average UK room rent currently just over £400 per month, that's a significant amount of extra income someone who's retired could be earning from their property."
The group said there had also been a 79% increase in the number of homeowners aged between 45 to 54 who had an empty room they wanted to let, while adverts from those aged between 55 and 64 had almost doubled.
Similar research from high street bank Abbey found that 3% of homeowners were currently renting out their spare room, with a further 3% considering taking in a lodger in order to boost their income.
Those who have let a room receive an average of £393 a month in rent, or £4,716 a year.
Under the Government's Rent a Room scheme people receive up to £4,250 a year through renting out a room in their main home without having to pay tax on the money.
Opinium research questioned 1,600 homeowners during July for Abbey.

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This sort of thing happened during the war and afterwards and has always been a way of stretching a budget but for pensioners to have to do this when they deserve their homes to themselves, is not right.

Lizx

I would like to make a comment in favour of the 'Rent a Room Scheme'.

When my son first started work, after University, he had a room, or rather a bedroom and sitting room, in the home of a lovely couple in their late 70s-early 80s.

He rented the room for almost 3 years and was made very welcome by the couple. They enjoyed having a young person around and someone to change lightbulbs etc, plus when they went on extended holidays to stay with their family, there was a caretaker in residence. (Even though he left them 4 years ago, when he married, we still exchange Christmas cards with the now widowed lady. She is still renting out a room, through a list at her large local company's human resources assistance for young recruits. )

Sometimes, the scheme can work.

Elisabeth

Hi Liz

I see Dot in Eastenders is trying it.

I suppose it could work out well for both parties but you would have to be very very carefull. so much goes on these day's.

Marion

My nan used to take in lodgers after my grandad died, to make ends meet.
We lived a few doors away so could check on her every day. She never had any problems

x

We always had lodgers when i was growing up. Mum & Dad would only take male lodgers as they thought they were less trouble !! was hard work for mum as she had 7 children to attend to as well and she provided full board for her lodgers, Many stayed for several years so they must have been well looked after. It was done to supplement the household income .
I wouldnt like to have to do it now though.altho if you are on your own it may be worthwhile to have the extra income and company too
Shirley

I know that back in the thirties, my parents lived in rented rooms as there were no homes available. they eventually took over the whole house and took in visitors themselves.

When my parents were first married and moved back to Norwich after trying to live with my Dad's Mum in Buckinghamshire, and them not getting on, we lived in rooms in an old lady's house. The houses are gone now, the road is full of industrial buildings like garages and mot centre etc where we take our car, coincidentally. Mum used to tell me how I one day, just a toddler, managed to open the sideboard door and get her precious jar of marmalade out, she said she didn't know where to start me, the floor or what! I did let rooms many years ago when the person who started a houseshare with me decided he couldn't afford it after all, he had forgotten to count his car payments in the equation so left me with a three bed house to rent on my own, I often had lodgers, sometimes the men who came to talk to people about North Sea Gas so were there just Monday to Friday, and other times, artistes from a local club I worked part time at, or the local theatre. I was lucky that most of the time I never had a problem, in fact the most difficult lodger was a female, she was awful and I got rid of her pdq.

Needs must when the devil drives.

Lizx