Sharp rise in home owners taking in lodgers to beat the squeeze

[FarCenter]

Last month saw a large spike in the number of home owners renting a room – swelling the UK’s rapidly expanding lodger population to record levels.

Experts said a combination of Christmas credit card bills, winter fuel bills and accumulating personal debts had forced many home owners to rent a spare room as a means of raising additional income.

The website spareroom.co.uk, which compiled these figures, said almost 6,000 new home owners had rented out a room by the end of January. As a result the number of new lodgers was 83pc higher than the previous month (Dec 2011) and 22pc higher than in January 2010

January was a record month for new lodgers, beating the numbers recorded in the previous record month (Aug 2011) by 15pc.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/borrowing/mortgages/9083546/Sharp-rise-in-home-owners-taking-in-lodgers-to-beat-the-squeeze.html

While this is in the UK, the US has 32 million single-person households. This is way up from what it was 50 years ago. If more single-person households start consolidating, the demand for housing could fall quite a lot.

[The Genealogist]

1. "Taking in borders" seems to have been common in 1930 America

I do a lot of genealogical work, and the 1930 census seems to have more people than previous censuses listed as "border." I have never looked up the stats on it, it is only my perception. The stock market crashed the previous year, and I am not sure if the effects were being felt quickly enough to attribute the increase in boarders for the 1930s census on that. Still, it used to be common for people in the US to take on a boarder, to help defray the cost of living.

[RKP5637]

2. "If more single-person households start consolidating, the demand for

housing could fall quite a lot."

The cost for housing in the US is getting ridiculous. By the time one figures in the mortgage, taxes, utilities, insurance, food, etc. you're up to thousands a year just for a roof and survival. And around here just the cost of food keeps going up and up.

Going to the big box stores for repair stuff for the house the prices keep going up and up. And god forbid you have to hire someone to do something you can't so yourself. Even the price for a few batteries is ridiculous.

[Fumesucker]

3. Have you been to the DU Frugal and Energy Efficient Living group?

Those are all good topics for that group, ways to beat the high prices of shelter, goods and repairs.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1128

[RKP5637]

4. Yep, that's an excellent group! I'll visit there more often. Thanks!!! n/t