"The idea that shared living is only for students is increasingly out of date."
- Vann Vogstad - COHO
While house sharing may have traditionally been associated with students, new research from shared living platform COHO has found that 40.6% of UK adults living in HMOs are now aged 30 or over, as the cost-of-living crisis leads to rising rents and wider affordability pressures.
The findings are based on responses from over 5,000 UK house sharers in the ‘State of Shared Living Report 2026’, highlighting an increase in older tenants choosing shared accommodation.
Over the last year, the proportion of people aged 30+ increased from 32.4% to 40%, while the number of those aged 45 and over rose from 7.1% to 9.3% over the same period.
COHO says the shift comes against a backdrop of continuing pressure on household finances. According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), average UK private rents increased 3.8% year-on-year to £1,406 per month, while average UK house prices rose to £273,000.
48.8% of sharers say they moved into their current home to be able to afford to live in their chosen area, with 67.4% saying house sharing helps them save money. However, 55.4% say shared living is a choice rather than a financial necessity.
The trend varies across the country. Oxford and London have some of the highest proportions of over-30 sharers, with roughly half of residents surveyed falling into this age group, while renters in cities such as Liverpool and Bristol remain younger.
COHO’s findings also suggest attitudes towards house sharing are changing. 75.4% of current sharers say they are comfortable telling people they live in a shared home, while 64.2% would recommend house sharing to others. 41.1% have no plans to move, highlighting how shared living is becoming a longer-term housing choice for many renters.
"The profile of today's house sharer also challenges many long-held stereotypes of HMO renters," said Vann Vogstad, founder and CEO of COHO.
"Our research found that among those aged 30 and over, 89% are in paid employment, while across the wider sector, 63% work full-time, just under 90% are part-time and around 4% are self-employed. Sharers are also split almost evenly by gender.
"This suggests that, for many people, earnings are no longer keeping pace with the rising cost of living, making shared housing an increasingly practical choice, even for those in stable employment."
"The idea that shared living is only for students is increasingly out of date," Vogstad continued. "Rising rents, higher housing costs and the challenge of saving for a deposit mean more working professionals are turning to house sharing later in life.
"It provides an affordable alternative to living alone, while also offering social benefits and a sense of community; no longer viewed as a temporary stopgap for many."
