75-year-old Robynne Charlton searches for housemate and rental

A 75-year-old pensioner has turned to non-traditional housing means, often used by students and backpackers, in a bid to find an affordable rental she can have as her forever home.

Bunking in with friends, living in a garage, or a tent in a friend’s backyard are a few options 75-year-old Robynne Charlton has considered after her 25-year-long rental was sold, the rent doubled, and the new owner wanting to move in or renovate.

Rather than live the rest of her life as a nomad from shed to bunk, faced with becoming another number in a growing demographic of homeless elderly women, Ms Charlton is full of optimism and has decided her best option is to find a flatmate with a similar lifestyle, preferably female.

This way she can find a nice duplex, or a humble 3-bedroom house with a backyard, split the rent with her new housemate and live happily ever after.

Her conditions aren’t too lengthy.

“Don’t do alcohol, drugs, or smoke,” Ms Charlton said.

“I favour educated discussions over solidified opinions.”

75-year-old Robynne Charlton is about to face homelessness after her 25-year rental home was sold. She is hoping to find other mature single women to share a house with, Monday, November 4, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

She describes herself as an avid gardener, always busy and out with her artist friends, and enjoys a quiet space at home.

She is not keen on giving up her independent lifestyle or lowering her living conditions and she wants someone with the same aspirations.

While the sharehouse and flatmate domain has historically been the space for school leavers, backpacker, university students and entry-level workers, its demographic is increasingly widening, with a growing amount at the other end of the age spectrum – aged 55 and older.

Alarmingly, the 75+ age bracket was the fastest growing demographic this year, according to Flatmates.com.au national share accommodation survey.

Half of the people aged over 55 say they are turning to share accommodation because they can’t afford to live on their own, Flatmates.com.au product manager Claudia Conley said.

She said the survey showed an increase in homeowners renting out spare rooms for this same reason, particularly in regional areas and city suburbs.

75-year-old Robynne Charlton is about to face homelessness after her 25-year rental home was sold. She is hoping to find other mature single women to share a house with, Monday, November 4, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

For the last 25 years, Ms Charlton has lived by herself in a small 2-bedroom house on Tor St, where she’s patched its roof, landscaped its gardens, always paid rent on time, and lives on what she can afford as a pensioner.

But this all changed in November, when the rental house was sold and she was given a few months to vacate, or sign onto a lease which charged double the rent, at time when rents are at an highest and city’s vacancy rate is at a historic low.

Through last minute negotiations with the new owner, she managed to sign a lease for a weekly rent she could just afford for another three months – until February 16, 2025.

The understanding though, is she will eventually have to move out as soon as she finds somewhere else to live.

Now she’s exploring all options and decided to go back to something she would have been happy to do in her 20s – make a profile on flatmates.com.au.

Would like to share a home with Ms Charlton or have a similar housing story? – email [e-mail]