How best to find lodgings when you're in your fifties...

Mr_Hindley

Hello all,
A friend of mine in her early fifties, living in London, is in the unfortunate position of needing to find somewhere to live fairly quickly. Her marriage broke down a couple of years ago and she moved in with her mum; however, her mum has now passed away and the council flat they were in is being taken back.

She's trying to find a room to rent, but they all seem to be in flatshares with twenty-/thirty-somethings who don't want an 'old fuddy-duddy' (which she isn't!)
Any advice on how she could find somewhere suitable..?

Thanks in advance!

PasturesNew

The only thing to do is to advertise for herself on sites for sharing. Photo + age stated will bring in responses only from those who are looking to share with an older person.

It is difficult once you're over 45-50 because, as you say, most sharing's for 20s-30s and when they interview people they don't want to live with their mum

ruggedtoast

What a sad story. Is there no way she can stay in the flat until the council kick her out? It would then presumably be their responsibility to find her a new home.

I can't imagine anything worse than having to flat share in my 50s. Let alone with millennials.

carefullycautious

She may be able to stay as she has lived there for the last couple of years.


Did the tenancy transfer from husband to wife?

agrinnall

A couple of options to consider :

Property guardian - this is one example, I'm sure there are others http://www.global-guardians.co.uk/

Homeshare http://homeshare.org/programmes-worldwide/united-kingdom/

moneyistooshorttomention

carefullycautious wrote: »

She may be able to stay as she has lived there for the last couple of years.


Did the tenancy transfer from husband to wife?

That's what I was wondering.

I knew an older single guy some years back who had never moved out of his parents Council place. As I recall, the tenancy was in the husbands (ie his fathers) name only and got transferred to the wife (ie his mother), but the Council let this middle-aged son keep a Council tenancy (even though there already had been one transfer).

I think they might have swopped him from a 3? bedroom house to a one bedroom flat in the process - but they quite definitely let him keep being a Council tenant I do remember.

xylophone

In the circumstances, she should ask the council to assist, particularly if in any sense she was caring for her mother.

[Deleted User]

If she goes this route (which is probably the best prospect for her) she might have a fight on her hands. I'd advise she contacted her MP - sometimes they can cut through the red tape LA's can put up.

slopemaster

If she's willing to move out into the suburbs, she could probably find an owner-occupier her own age or older who is looking for a lodger for company, perhaps after a divorce or bereavement - rather than a houseshare

stator

Someone looking for a lodger might be more open than a house share. Since the landlords lives in their house they would pressumably prefer someone less likely to be irresponsible and troublesome.

Bart1

I'm 49 and found a room easy enough on Spare room. Didn't even occur to me that age might be a factor.