Intergenerational homesharing FAQ: clear answers to common questions

How is this FAQ organised?

Questions follow the order of a real decision: understanding the idea, checking eligibility, looking at money and time, then practical life together and finding a programme. Each answer is deliberately brief; other sections of the guide explore history, risks and comparisons in depth.

What exactly is intergenerational homesharing?

It is a living arrangement in which someone with a spare room, usually an older person, shares their home with a younger adult. Rather than paying market rent, the younger person offers companionship and agreed practical help, sometimes alongside a modest financial contribution.

Who can be a householder?

Typically an older person with a furnished spare room who is still largely independent and wants company or light support. Homeshare UK notes that its model is flexible, so some programmes also welcome younger householders who need help to keep living at home.

Who can become a homesharer?

Students, postgraduates, healthcare trainees and early-career workers make up most applicants. Leeds Homeshare, for instance, asks for people over 18 who can give ten hours a week and are ideally working, studying or otherwise financially independent.

Is there an age limit?

It depends on the country. French rules set the host at 60 or over and the young person under 30. Madrid's Convive pairs people over 65 with students aged 18 to 36, while UK programmes generally set no upper age for homesharers.

How much does homesharing cost?

In UK schemes no rent is paid, but both sides pay a programme fee and the homesharer usually contributes to bills. The table compares typical published amounts in three places; always confirm current figures directly with the programme concerned.

What kind of help is expected?

Everyday tasks rather than care: shopping, cooking a shared meal, cleaning and laundry, gardening, walking the dog, or simply being in the house overnight. The precise list is agreed between the two people before the move and written into the agreement.

How many hours a week is typical?

UK programmes work on roughly ten hours a week. Some continental schemes expect more time but in a looser form: Madrid's Convive asks students to spend two to three hours a day with the older person, mostly as company rather than chores.

What tasks are off limits?

Personal care is excluded across established programmes: bathing, lifting, feeding and giving medication. These require trained professionals. A homeshare can sit alongside a home care package, but the homesharer should never be pressured into acting as an unpaid carer.

What checks are carried out?

Coordinators interview both sides and take references. In the UK, homesharers undergo a DBS criminal record check, and some schemes add affordability and right-to-rent checks. Householders' homes are assessed too; Leeds requires fire and gas safety checks before any introduction.

Is there a written agreement?

Yes, in every reputable programme. UK schemes use a voluntary homeshare agreement drawn up after an introductory meeting, often followed by a trial of a few weeks. It records hours, tasks, shared spaces, bill contributions and how either side can bring things to an end.

What happens during university holidays?

That is for the agreement to settle in advance. Convive in Madrid, for example, lets students spend one weekend a month away and leave during the three main academic holiday periods, so the older person can plan for those absences.

Can the homesharer have guests or a partner stay?

Only on the terms agreed with the householder. Rules on daytime visitors, overnight guests and partners vary widely, so they should be discussed openly before signing. Clear expectations here prevent one of the most common sources of friction in shared homes.

Will homesharing affect welfare benefits?

It can. Leeds Homeshare warns applicants that welfare benefits could be affected, which is why it prefers homesharers who are working, studying or financially independent. Anyone receiving benefits should seek advice before moving in, as rules differ between countries and schemes.

Is homesharing available outside the UK?

Yes. Homeshare UK counts programmes in 16 countries, from Canada to Korea. Well-documented examples include Wohnen für Hilfe in Germany, Convive in Madrid and a French network of 54 matching organisations grouped under the name Cohabilis.

How do I find a programme near me?

Start with the national network in your country, then contact local councils, universities and older people's charities, which often know about schemes in the area. The usual route from first enquiry to moving in looks like this:

1. Search the national homeshare network's list of local programmes.
2. Ask your council, university housing office or an older people's charity.
3. Request an information pack and check fees and coverage area.
4. Complete the application and attend the coordinator's interview.
5. Supply references and complete the required background checks.
6. Meet a proposed match and agree terms before a trial period.

What are the most common early mistakes?

Early problems usually come from small omissions rather than bad intentions. Checking the following points before the first introduction saves a great deal of awkwardness later, for householders, homesharers and the family members supporting them.

• Not confirming the total monthly cost, including fees and bills.
• Promising evening availability that exams or shifts will not allow.
• Skipping the conversation about guests and overnight stays.
• Failing to tell the home insurer about the new arrangement.
• Setting no date to review how things are going.

Is homesharing regulated by law?

In the UK, homeshares rest on voluntary agreements managed by programmes rather than a dedicated statute. France is different: a 2018 law created a specific contract for hosts over 60 and young people under 30, explained in detail elsewhere on this site.

Where can I get independent advice?

Your local programme coordinator is the first port of call. In the UK, Homeshare UK and Shared Lives Plus can point you towards schemes and standards. In France, local housing information agencies known as ADIL give free, neutral legal advice on cohabitation contracts.