Homesharers: find an affordable room and help someone

Help an older person with everyday tasks while sharing their home at a discounted rent.

Benefits for sharers

Leeds Homeshare can match you with someone who has a spare room and needs a bit of extra help with daily tasks. This could be an older person or someone with an ongoing health condition.

You’ll move into their home and give them up to 10 hours of support a week. You'll only pay £200 per month (or £150 for low incomes) as well as your share of the house bills.

There is no personal care involved, just some companionship and jobs around the home like shopping, cooking, cleaning, walking the dog or gardening.

You will have your own bedroom and you will be able to use shared areas like the kitchen, bathroom and living room.

A homeshare gives you:

• great value accommodation
• a friendly and homely place to live
• the chance to help someone keep their independence
• a rewarding experience that looks great on your CV
• a way to learn new life skills and make a new friend

Eligibility

To qualify, you must:

• be over 18
• be available 10 hours a week to provide support with daily tasks
• want to live in Leeds and the surrounding areas
• not have commitments that take you away from home a lot overnight
• feel positive about living with an older person or someone with an ongoing health condition
• be able to afford the Homeshare fees and your share of house bills
• ideally be working, a student or financially independent (because welfare benefits could be affected by becoming a homesharer)

How it works

1. We interview you to find out more about you, what you would like from a Homeshare and what you have to offer.
2. Together we create a profile so that householders can find out more about you.
3. When we find you a match, you will meet up and get to know them.
4. If you’re both happy, you’ll sign an agreement that lists the tasks you’re going to help them with.
5. You’ll move in and give up to 10 hours of support per week with the tasks you agreed to.
6. Your match usually lasts at least 6 months and you can continue it for longer if you like.
7. During the homeshare, we stay in touch and we’re here to help if you need it.

Fees, rent and bills

You will not pay any rent to the householder. You will just need to pay:

• a monthly fee of £200 to Leeds Homeshare (or £150 if you earn less than the Personal Tax Allowance for a single person External link)
• your share of the house bills (usually less than £20 a week) which is a fixed amount you agree before you move in, paid to the householder
• a one off £50 fee for background checks once we find a match

You may also want to agree to split the cost of household expenses such as food, cleaning and laundry.

Apply or find out more

Contact us to find out more or request an information pack and application form.