House Sharing Among Over-40s on the Rise in the UK
Age Diversity in Shared Living: Over a Tenth of Co-Tenants are Age Forty and Above
A growing number of over-40s in the UK are choosing to share homes, according to recent data from COHO, a leading platform for matching housemates based on compatibility.
In a survey conducted between December 2024 and January 2025, COHO found that 11.5% of their 4,500 house sharers were aged 40 or above. This represents a significant shift from 2015, when only 10% of telematics policyholders were over 40.
The change in demographics is particularly noticeable in cities like Southampton, where over-40 house sharers account for 20.2% of the total, and London, with 19.8%. Other cities with a significant proportion of over-40 house sharers include Leeds, Manchester, Portsmouth, Coventry, Birmingham, Plymouth, Reading, and Oxford.
COHO's Founder and CEO, Vann Vogstad, attributes this trend to the evolving nature of co-living. "Modern co-living has evolved into a lifestyle choice, not just an economic necessity," Vogstad said. He predicts that house sharing for over 40 will soon be considered an absolute norm.
The survey also revealed interesting insights about the gender balance among over-40 house sharers. Of those surveyed, 55.7% were male and 44.1% were female.
Meanwhile, the cost of living continues to rise, with private rents increasing by 6.2% in the 12 months to January 2024, and mortgage costs also on the rise. These cost pressures could be indirect drivers for house sharing among adults in higher age groups.
In contrast, some insurance premiums are decreasing. For instance, prices for drivers aged under 25 have fallen by 2.2% in the past 12 months, and by 0.8% for all drivers. However, quoted van insurance premiums are still up 9.5% in the year to the end of September.
Data tables from COHO's survey on house sharing can be found online, providing a more detailed breakdown of the trends and demographics of over-40 house sharers in the UK.
References
- Consumer Intelligence. (2024). Van Insurance Price Index. Retrieved from Consumer Intelligence
- Coverbox. (2025). New customer research on the changing demographic of telematics policyholders. Retrieved from Coverbox
- COHO. (2025). Survey data on house sharing among over-40s. Retrieved from COHO
- The increase in over-40s house sharing in the UK opens up opportunities for telematics providers to offer personalized insurance policies catering to the lifestyle and financial needs of this demographic.
- With the rise in house sharing among over-40s, fashion-and-beauty brands could target their marketing strategies to this segment, focusing on products that prioritize comfort and practicality.
- As over-40s continue to dominate the house-sharing market, financial advisors should capitalize on this trend by providing relevant advice on home-and-garden upgrades, personal-finance management, and investment options tailored towards shared living arrangements.
