- Over the past five years the number of so-called 'live-in landlords' looking to rent out spare rooms in their own homes has almost doubled.
- Over 65s are the fastest growing age group looking to find roommates to share their homes.
- Almost four in 10 US roommates now live in multi-generational households, where the age difference between the oldest and youngest adult is 20 years or more1.
Over the past five years (2025 vs 2020) the number of US homeowners looking to rent out their spare rooms has increased by 92%. And the rise in Americans sharing their homes with roommates is being led by over 65s, according to new data from roommate site SpareRoom.
In 2020, 'live-in landlords' aged 65+ placed 2.9% of 'room offered' ads on SpareRoom, but by 2025 that figure had risen to 7.2% - the biggest rise among all age groups - as shown in the table below:
| Age group | % of live-in landlord users in 2025 | % of live-in landlord users in 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 5.5 | 10.2 |
| 25-34 | 25.3 | 37.2 |
| 35-44 | 26.5 | 25.2 |
| 45-54 | 20.0 | 14.4 |
| 55-64 | 15.6 | 10.1 |
| 65+ | 7.2 | 2.9 |
Facing retirement without enough money to live comfortably, and potentially also alone in under-occupied homes, more over 65s are monetizing the assets they have, including the homes they've spent decades paying off. There has also been a sizable increase among homesharers in the 55-64 age group, which includes 'empty-nesters' whose adult children have moved out.
The financial return for taking in a roommate is significant, with room rents reaching record highs in many major metropolitan areas in 2025. But this rising trend benefits renters too. Live-in landlords contribute 39% of room supply for roommates according to SpareRoom data2. And, over the past five years, ads posted by these users have grown at a faster rate than ads placed by landlords who don't live in the property and agents.
This is changing household dynamics. According to a February 2026 survey of 491 US roommates by SpareRoom, 39% now live in multi-generational households, where the age difference between the oldest and youngest adult is 20 years or more. More than a quarter (27%) have (or are) roommates with a 30+ year age gap between them.
Matt Hutchinson, director of roommate site SpareRoom, comments: “Retirees are getting wise to the financial and social benefits of sharing their homes with roommates and, in doing so, they're contributing to America's under-supplied rental market. Live-in landlords also tend to charge lower rents than traditional landlords so everyone benefits."
“This isn't entirely passive income; some admin is involved. Live-in landlords have responsibilities to roommates and must pay taxes on what they earn, so if you're considering renting out a room, do your homework and read up on federal, state and local laws, and tax rules. Drawing up a formal roommate agreement is always recommended, as well as a set of house rules concerning potential sticking points like overnight guests, pets, use of shared facilities, or working from home.”