Gran? No, she’s my housemate! Student, 27, moves in with widow, 95, to beat high rents
ONE is a student facing the tricky task of finding an affordable place to live in London. The other is a 95-year-old RAF veteran ‘bored to tears’ with living alone since her husband died two decades ago.
In the ordinary course of events, 27-year-old Alexandra Knox and widow Florence Smith might never have met.
But after being paired through a scheme that introduces older people looking for company and help around the house with the younger generation looking to save on rent and bills, they have become firm friends. Since Miss Knox, from Newcastle upon Tyne, moved into Mrs Smith’s home in Wimbledon, South-West London, in September they have been sharing the household chores, chatting over cups of tea and watching game shows together.
Not only that, but the student, who’s studying for a master’s degree at the Institute of Art, pays rent of £199 a month. The average for a one-bedroom property near Mrs Smith’s home is £359 a week, according to estate agent Foxtons.
The women, who were introduced by the Homeshare scheme, are thought to have the largest age gap of any housemates in Britain.
Mrs Smith, who was a driver in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force during the Second World War before becoming a social worker, said: ‘Some people might feel a bit concerned about having a younger person living in their home, but Alexandra is lovely.
‘I would call her a close friend. We talk about everything, just as I would with my other friends. It’s a bit strange to think I was 67 when my housemate was born, but I don’t think about it that much.’
Mrs Smith retired aged 70 and still cooks, cleans and shops for herself. Her husband Dan died more than 20 years ago and the pensioner signed up to Homeshare in 2008. ‘ Sharing your home is a marvellous idea,’ she said. ‘Loneliness is horrible. You can get bored to tears being by yourself.
‘Having someone else in the home makes a big difference. You don’t have to worry about falling over or hurting yourself.
‘More importantly, it’s lovely to have somebody to talk to during the day. Even if we just see each other for 15 minutes at breakfast, it’s some conversation during the day.
‘I still do lots of cooking, cleaning and shopping, and I go out and meet friends for a catch-up, but it’s lovely to have someone putting their key in the door in the evening and there to help out with some of the more difficult chores.’
Miss Knox said: ‘Before I went to meet Flo I was terrified. It didn’t seem like the normal thing to do, living with an older person. But it’s like being with an old family friend.
‘Flo is funny and lovely to talk to and we’ve become good friends. We watch The Chase on TV together, we’ll sit down for a chat over a cup of tea, we’ll do some of the cleaning. It’s no different from living with friends as uni students.’
Miss Knox added: ‘She seems to go out more than I do! If we have to worry about either of us having a late night, it’s probably her.’