Concerns over the housing crisis and a growing awareness of the loneliness experienced by many in old age has resulted in a unique scheme being launched in Richmond and Wandsworth.

Home Share UK is a national network that helps elderly residents give up a bedroom in their home for a tenant – either rent-free or about 80 per cent cheaper than the market rate – in exchange for company and simple chores.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils will be working with Home Share UK to deliver the idea in both boroughs and will be ‘match-making’ isolated people with someone who can provide them with about 10 hours of weekly in-house help.

One householder said the experience had “changed my life” in a testimonial for PossAbilities Homeshare which operates in Merseyside and Manchester.

They added: “All those years I lived alone but I’m not alone anymore – we’ve become friends.”

Another person said: “Now I have a Homesharer, my middle-aged children feel reassured because there is someone else in the house with me.”

Typical chores can be cleaning, cooking, and shopping, or simply watching TV together. A house-sharer would never be expected to help with personal care such as bathing.

Already supporting the scheme are HMP Wandsworth and St Mary’s University; staff at the prison are often required to live nearby, and students at St Mary’s University will be encouraged to consider the scheme.

Edward de Quay, responsible for Volunteering at the university, said: “We are pleased to see Wandsworth and Richmond councils moving forward with their partnership with Homeshare UK, and hope that students will be attracted by this opportunity.

“We want our students to have a positive impact on the community and to show a generosity of spirit, something that Homeshare is a perfect fit for.”

Home Share UK will carefully assess all applications, take references, conduct enhanced DBS checks and have a thorough assessment and matching process to ensure risk and safeguarding issues are well managed.

Councillor David Marlow, Richmond cabinet member for adult social services and health, said: “Homeshare is an imaginative programme aimed at tackling the lack of affordable housing for younger adults as well as helping to overcome the huge loneliness problem experienced by many older people.”

Councillor Paul Ellis, Wandsworth Social Care spokesman, said: “This is a common-sense approach that tackled two problems at once in a creative way.

“Loneliness is a hidden problem in our communities, and as well as providing more homes, this scheme will provide companionship and bring different generations together.”