Roommates sharing apartments was what Friends, Girls, The Big Bang Theory, and New Girl were built on. But thanks to sky-high rents, the ‘young upstarts navigating the big city’ trope looks ever more like fiction than reality.

The soaring cost of living is pricing young people out of the rental market altogether, and keeping older people in shared rentals for longer. The result? Roommates are getting older. Meanwhile, unaffordable rents are endangering social spaces in shared homes, limiting one of the major benefits to living with roommates.

The proof is in the changing shape of the roommate market. In 2015, 18-24 year olds represented 37% of renters in shared households, according to a breakdown of SpareRoom user data. By 2025, that figure had fallen to 28%. Those aged 25-34 years old – the age group we most typically associate with renting with roommates – fell from 40% in 2015 to 31% in 2025, though this is still the most dominant age group.

Meanwhile, roommates aged 45+ are on the rise. In fact, their share in the market has doubled in the 10 years to 2025. That’s why, today, it’s not uncommon to find households of roommates with massive age gaps. Almost four in 10 roommates now live in multi-generational households, where the difference between the oldest and youngest adult is 20 years or more.

Retiree roommates are the fastest growing

Retirees are less common in shared apartments; this age group accounts for less than 5% of all US roommates, but the share of over 65s more than tripled in the 10 years to 2025 – the biggest increase of any age group – as reported by The New York Times.

The simple truth is too many renters are struggling to afford the high cost of living. More than half (54%) of 1,257 US roommates told us they were spending 40% or more of their take-home pay on rent in an August 2025 survey. And, despite the fact living with others has always been the cheapest way to rent, a sizable proportion of those surveyed – 42% – still described their rent as 'unaffordable'.

Roommate rents remain stubbornly high

Despite some marginal decreases throughout 2025, room rents hit record highs in 13 of the 30 most popular metro areas among roommates – including Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Houston, and Portland – and there have been no significant decreases in room rents, which is what renters badly need.

As a result, fewer young people can afford to leave their family homes and older renters are increasingly being priced out of home ownership: they simply cannot save for a downpayment and afford rent, nor the higher price of renting solo.

This is fueling other transformations in the roommate market. For many couples, living as a twosome in an apartment of their very own is a rite of passage, a major life milestone. But, for others, it's a pipe dream. Around one in eight (13%) roommates live in households that include at least one couple, according to an August 2025 SpareRoom survey of 1,257 US roommates.

Some of these couples are renting with roommates, while others have managed to buy homes, but rent out spare bedrooms to roommates to help cover their mortgage and costs, as reported by The New York Times.

Roommates forgo living rooms for cheaper rents

High rents are also driving a rise in living room conversions. The number of shared rentals without living rooms is almost three times higher today than it was five years ago as renters turn their communal spaces into bedrooms to lower rent per person, according to SpareRoom data.

In 2020, 9% of shared homes across the whole of the US had no living room, by 2025 that figure had risen to 25%. While 30% told us this was a decision taken by the landlord, around half (49%) said it was a decision made by roommates, suggesting affordability is a top priority for cost-burdened roommates today.

The changing shape of roommate households

The sky-high cost of living is transforming the dynamics of roommate households as we know them. Americans are completely rethinking how they live, and the traditional idea of ‘home' is evolving. From retirees and couples with roommates to the death of the living room, what was once unconventional is now the new normal.

The market is under intense pressure, but it's also adapting. Renters are finding creative ways to make shared living work for their budgets, even if that means sacrificing social space for lower rent, and embracing a setup that would have looked unconventional a decade ago. Whatever comes next for roommates will be dictated by the trajectory of rents.

How someone manages their money might not be front of mind when deciding if they're the perfect roommate; the focus is generally on what you have in common and shared daily routines. But when we recently asked renters what's actually most important in a roommate, 8 out of 10 said it's reliably paying bills. So simple but not always a given.

To help keep things stress-free, here's our simple five-step system for managing finances with your roommates effectively:

1. Do the math

Before you move in, sit down and work out the full monthly cost of living in your shared home. Ask previous tenants or your landlord about typical costs of utility bills like heating and water, and don't forget extras like Wi-Fi or insurance. Knowing what to expect means everyone can budget properly from day one.

2. Delegate

Once you know what needs to be paid, figure out who's responsible for what. Some roommates prefer to assign each person a specific bill, while others find it easier to have one person handle all payments. There's no right or wrong answer - decide what you think works for your household, and know that it can always be revised later.

3. Agree on communal items

Each household is different when it comes to agreeing on what, if any, items around the home are shared. Toilet paper and dish soap are commonly shared between roommates, but what about milk, laundry detergent, or cleaning products? Have the conversation early so no one ends up feeling like they're always footing the bill.

4. Set up a tracking system

Keeping track of who owes what is much easier with the right tools. Cost-splitting apps are a popular choice to help log payments, send reminders, and keep everything transparent. Or, you could try the old-fashioned way and create a shared spreadsheet. For regular fixed costs like rent, setting up automated payments means you'll never miss a due date.

5. Honesty is the best policy

If you forget to pay on time (it happens!), apologize but don’t make a habit of it. If you're going through a tough month and know you can't make a payment, say so early. Most roommates will appreciate the honesty and may be more willing to reach a compromise.

Follow these five steps and you’ll be on track to living in financial harmony with your roommates!

Want your rent paid for a whole month? Here's how…

Every month, SpareRoom’s Live Rent Free sweepstake gives one lucky US renter the chance to have their rent paid.

Through Live Rent Free, we’ve given away over $150,000+ to our lucky winners, and since 2017 we've also matched every prize with a donation to our charity partner, Breaking Ground.

How to enter

Enter the Live Rent Free sweepstake here – it opens on the 1st of every month.

Got questions? Check out our Live Rent Free FAQs for all the details.

Keep an eye on our Instagram and Facebook for extra entry codes to increase your chances of winning!

(T&C’s apply).

Supporting Breaking Ground to end homelessness

Since 2017, we’ve matched every prize amount and donated the same amount to Breaking Ground. Breaking Ground is the largest provider of permanent supportive housing and outreach services for people experiencing homelessness on the streets of New York City.

In that time, we’ve given away an incredible amount of money to both renters in the US and Breaking Ground to support their mission to end homelessness. Want to see how much we’ve raised so far? Check out the latest total here.

Our donations support their Breaking Ground's Transitional Housing programme. This provides short-term homes for New York's most vulnerable, along with intensive case management, clinical services, three nutritious meals a day, access to clean clothes and laundry services and a variety of onsite programming to help people rebuild their lives.

To find out more about Breaking Ground’s work to help combat homelessness and how you can get involved, head to their website. And of course, keep entering Live Rent Free – by doing so, you're already helping.

Disagreements with roommates are inevitable, even if you live with friends. But what causes the most tension? To find out, we asked over 1,000 roommates - here are the top culprits and our advice on how to keep the peace.

1. Cleanliness

That’s right - cleaning came out on top, with over half of roommates saying this was the number one cause of tension in their household. Everyone has different ideas of what ‘clean’ means, so set your expectations from the start. Be honest about your habits and choose roommates with similar standards. If you’re already clashing, talk it out (calmly, of course), and try to reach a compromise. You can suggest dividing chores or setting a cleaning rota - you could even consider splitting the cost of a regular cleaner to save the headache!

2. Noise

Let’s face it, you’re not going to enjoy living with a roommate who loves to party if you’re someone who likes to be in bed by 9pm. Ask prospective roommates about their work schedule and hobbies to make sure your lifestyles align.

Being quiet late at night or early in the morning (especially on a weekday) is a good rule to follow when living with others. Of course, there will always be exceptions - we’ve all been guilty of bringing the after party home once in a while. This is why it’s important to ensure you’re living with the right people for you.

3. Money & bills

Talk openly about how much it costs to live in your home, or what your budget is, and make sure it’s clear how much everyone contributes towards bills. One-off mistakes or unforeseen circumstances do happen - as long as you communicate your circumstances and apologize it should be fine - but repeat offences are unacceptable.

When not paying on time or at all becomes an ongoing issue and it isn’t something that can be worked out between you, it may be necessary to take the next step and ask them to leave or move to a formal eviction proceeding.

4. Not replacing communal stuff

Establish and agree on what the communal items are in your household, and stick to them. Also, it’s a good idea to decide how items will be replaced when they’re finished (so it’s not the same person going to the store every time) - will you create a rota to decide whose turn it is to replace certain items? You could even get a money-splitting app which allows you to invoice your roommates when you buy a communal item. Do whatever works best for you.

Even when systems are put in place, things can still go awry. If someone in your household isn’t playing ball, speak to them privately at first to understand their perspective and hopefully reach an agreement.

5. Eating your food

Don’t take your roommates’ food without asking - simple. If you need something urgently, ask first or replace it right away. But if your food keeps going missing, calmly address it with the person involved and make it clear your items are off-limits. Confusion over whose food is whose can easily happen in a shared kitchen so assigning cupboards/shelves for each person can be helpful in avoiding accidental theft!

Our best advice

Living with roommates can have difficult moments, but it's also really rewarding. The best thing you can do to avoid conflict is set your expectations from the beginning and maintain open and honest communication. Remember that we’re all human and have different ways of living - respect and understanding go a long way!

Our 2025 Live Rent Free for a Year winner is Susan, from Oregon!

SpareRoom runs a monthly Live Rent Free prize draw that gives tenants the chance to win a cash prize equal to one month’s rent, and once a year, one lucky winner receives a full year’s rent. This year’s Live Rent Free for a year winner, Susan, won a game-changing $10.4K. We got in touch to see how she reacted to winning and what she plans to spend her prize money on. Here’s her story, in her own words…

“I never win anything, so I was sceptical at first. It’s taking some time to sink in, but I'm becoming more excited as the days go on. I’m still in disbelief, so the only other person who knows so far is my roommate!

I moved from Virginia to Oregon over ten years ago and I’ve been renting ever since. Almost a month ago I moved to Monroe into a house share with a lady and her two dogs. I’d been searching for a place that would take my dog and I, and thankfully I found someone local. My new roommate is a few years younger than me - we chat when she’s not at work, but we’re still getting to know each other. Fortunately, the house has a fenced yard so our dogs can run freely outside. My dog and the youngest of her two dogs play well and like to race each other, though her eldest is still warming up to us - it’s a big change for her!

I’m a retired nurse and caregiver living on a fixed income, and the past two years have been especially tough. I’ve had back surgery, cancer, and was without a permanent home for a few months, so winning Live Rent Free for a Year couldn’t have come at a better time. I plan to spend my prize money on getting my car fixed, and I’d also love to take a trip to my hometown this spring. It’s 3,000 miles away, which is why I haven’t been back in more than ten years. I want to visit my parents’ graves and our old home, and see how the town has changed since I left.

I entered the contest not expecting to win at all, but I held onto the tiny hope that I might. I’m so glad I did. I’d encourage anyone thinking of entering to do it - you never know when your luck will change.”

Setting foot on the property ladder has traditionally been considered a milestone of adulthood, but between rising inflation and stagnant wages, do renters still aspire to own a home - and, more importantly, can they afford to? We decided to find out. We asked 1,257 US renters a set of simple questions - here’s what we discovered.

Expectations to buy a property

Over half of the renters who took the survey (55%) wonder if buying somewhere will ever be possible - 18% said they don’t expect to buy and 37% were unsure. The top reasons given for this hesitancy were, no surprises, all grounded in affordability rather than choice: not being able to save for a down payment, not earning enough to qualify for a mortgage and having a poor credit score.

For those who felt more positive about getting on the property ladder, their top motivations were more emotional - they wanted somewhere to call home and have long-term financial security. When we asked how they expect to afford the down payment, the top 5 things people said they planned to cut back on were:

• Eating out
• Vacations/weekends away
• Buying clothes
• Socializing
• Drinking alcohol

It’s not just about cutbacks

For many renters, making cutbacks isn’t enough. Some are having to find other ways to cover their rent.

• 43% have a second job or source of income in addition to their main job
• 35% have borrowed money from friends or family
• 28% have used credit cards
• 16% rely on loans
• 10% stopped paying for health insurance
• 7% sold their car
• 7% rehomed a pet

Why affordability matters

The post-pandemic rush for rentals forced rents to record highs in almost every major US metro area. Despite the market cooling, rents never came back down again. As a result, renters are spending disproportionate amounts of their income on rent.

In the same survey, 77% of people said they spend more than 30% of their take-home pay on rent, and 40% spend more than half. With housing costs outpacing wage growth, renters are struggling to save for the future and are questioning if owning their own home will ever be on the cards.

Why age makes a difference

Interestingly, homeownership expectations decrease dramatically as renters get older. While 50% of roommates under 30 expect to be able to buy a home some day, this drops to 33% among over 40s.

Affordability was already a big issue before the pandemic, but roommates have become increasingly rent burdened and therefore are faced with a tough choice - do they compromise where they live, and the quality of the home they live in, to save towards a down payment on a home?

Under 30s seem optimistic about their chances of eventually owning homes, but combined with the high cost of living and the plummeting faith of renters over 40, it makes it hard to believe that these expectations are aligned with reality.

The question we have to start asking is what happens to a generation who retire without having built an asset through homeownership, who also haven't been able to save? If not addressed by lawmakers, this will have long-term consequences beyond the housing market.

Data based on SpareRoom's August 2025 US census of roommates which included tenants and roommates living with their landlords.

It’s not a shocking statement to say that rents have become increasingly unaffordable. More than a third of roommates have borrowed money from friends or family in order to pay their rent, and many have taken on extra work in addition to their main sources of income*.

While sadly there’s no imminent solution for lowering rents, we’ve done the math and put together some options which could help to make your rent cheaper - keep reading to see how!

1. Living with roommates vs living alone

Living with roommates is nearly always cheaper than living alone. For example, renting in a shared property in New York could be, on average, $1,974 cheaper per month than renting alone** – a saving of over $23,000 a year!

Not only do you save money on rent by living with roommates, but utilities will probably cost less too, as they’ll be divided between more people. You can also often afford to live in a better neighborhood than you could if you lived alone - potentially meaning amenities like transport links and grocery stores will be closer, helping to cut back on other expenses.

2. Live with a homeowner

Living with a homeowner versus renting from an agent or landlord who doesn't live in the property could cut monthly outgoings by 10% on average, and even more in some metro areas***.

There are, of course, a few things you’ll need to think about before living with a homeowner, as you won’t necessarily have the same rights as you do for a typical rental lease. But, there are many added perks of living with a resident landlord. For one, it’s already their home, so it might have more of a welcoming feel than a rental. Also, if anything breaks, it’s likely you’ll get it fixed more quickly as the landlord is also affected. Finally, expanding your search on SpareRoom to include rooms from resident landlords will also massively increase your choice of ads.

3. Living further out

Now that remote working has become more common, living further out may be a viable option for those willing to relocate - or those looking to break away from the pace of inner city life!

Places outside of major cities but within commuting distance often have cheaper rent. In New York, for example, room rents in Manhattan’s East Village currently average at $2,089 per month. In Jersey City - just a short drive across the river - rents average $1,278 per month. Over the course of a year, it could save you over $9k on rent!

Final thoughts

The rental market, as a whole, is still seeing rents trend upwards. However, year-on-year rents in some metros are falling or only seeing marginal increases, which sparks some hope that affordability will ease. In the meantime, for those looking for cheaper rent, these are just a few suggestions of alternative arrangements.

References
*SpareRoom renter survey, August 2025
**Calculated using SpareRoom Q3 2025 average rent and Zillow average rents for 1 bedroom ($3,450, accurate as of Nov 5th 2025)
***Data based on March 2025 room rental data

SpareRoom’s monthly Live Rent Free sweepstake offers tenants the chance to win a cash prize equal to one month’s rent, and once a year, a prize of a whole year’s rent. Aaron, 36, from Washington DC, won our 2024 Live Rent Free for a Year sweepstake, winning a game-changing $14.5K*! We got in touch to see how his life has changed over the past year, how he spent the prize money, and what he’s been up to since winning. Here’s Aaron's story, in his words…

I first started entering Live Rent Free sometime in 2017, when I was still living in my hometown of Austin. I never thought I could actually be chosen as a winner, but here I am! When I received the email telling me I’d won, I was shocked at first, then elated. I couldn't believe it was real - I figured it had to be a prank. When it eventually sank in, I immediately called my mom to share the good news, followed by going for celebratory drinks with my closest friends.

“When I received the email telling me I’d won, I was shocked at first, then elated. I couldn't believe it was real.”

A year ago, when I was asked what I planned to spend the prize money on, I said I would treat myself to a concert ticket or two. I also wanted to buy a bike to help me get around the city better and explore more of beautiful DC, to which I’d recently relocated for work! Using the money, I was able to attend some really fun concerts, and I did finally buy myself a bike. I’m excited to pedal around in the nice fall weather!

Aside from what I planned to do with the prize money, I was also able to save, as well as travel to Anfield this past March to see Liverpool FC for the first time - a truly life-changing experience that I may not have been able to afford otherwise. It meant so much to me to see them in the same season they won the title. I also traveled to Mexico City around the same time for a wedding and was able to do fun activities like ride a hot air balloon, go on a pyramid tour, as well as eat some amazing food!

“The stress of financial instability had defined much of my adult life, but this money helped me to finally reach a place of peace, and I am very grateful for it.”

Winning Live Rent Free for a Year certainly gave me peace of mind, as it helped me climb out of some debt I had accumulated as a graduate student. The stress of financial instability had defined much of my adult life, but this money helped me to finally reach a place of peace, and I am very grateful for it. My lifestyle is still the same, but I certainly have a stronger sense of optimism and wonder now - anything can happen, and you never know what good fortune can come your way unless you put yourself out there and try!

“My lifestyle is still the same, but I certainly have a stronger sense of optimism and wonder now - anything can happen, and you never know what good fortune can come your way unless you put yourself out there and try!”

Entering takes no time at all, and it was less than a month after winning that I received the prize money in my account. As improbable as it may seem, the only way to have a shot at winning the competition is to enter. What do you have to lose? It made a huge impact on my life, all because I clicked that little button to enter.

*A total of the areas' average monthly rent calculated by SpareRoom’s rental index, multiplied by twelve.

SpareRoom is offering to pay one lucky renter a cash prize equal to ONE YEAR’S rent. Keep reading to see how you could win!

We’ve been running a monthly sweepstake called ‘Live Rent Free’ since 2017, where entrants are given the chance to win their rent for a month. But once a year, we increase that prize money to a YEAR’s rent. And, lucky for you, it’s that time again.

You can enter our prize draw to be in with a chance of winning your rent for a YEAR anytime throughout September. The prize draw closes on October 31st 2025 at 12PM (ET).

Here’s the details of how you could be this year’s winner:

How can I enter?

All you have to do is enter your email address HERE. The sweepstake is free to enter.

Who is eligible?

The sweepstake is open to any US renter over the age of 18 and of the age of majority under the laws of their jurisdiction. Terms and conditions apply.

When can I enter?

The prize draw is open throughout October and closes at 12PM (ET) October 31st 2025.

Can I increase my chances of winning?

Keep an eye on our Instagram and Facebook for extra entry codes which you can use to increase your chances of winning!

Every entry makes a difference

Since 2017, we’ve matched every prize amount and donated the same amount to Breaking Ground. Breaking Ground is the largest provider of permanent supportive housing and outreach services for people experiencing homelessness on the streets of New York City.

In that time, we’ve given away an incredible amount of money to both renters in the US and Breaking Ground to support their mission to end homelessness. Want to see how much we’ve raised so far? Check out the latest total here.

Our donations support Breaking Ground's Transitional Housing programme. This provides short-term homes for New York's most vulnerable, along with intensive case management, clinical services, three nutritious meals a day, access to clean clothes and laundry services and a variety of onsite programming to help people rebuild their lives.

To find out more about Breaking Ground’s work to help combat homelessness and how you can get involved, head to their website. And of course, enter our sweepstake! By entering, you're already helping.

The Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses (FARE) Act went into effect on June 11, 2025 and will change how broker fees are handled in New York City. This new law shifts most broker fees from renters to landlords, helping reduce the high upfront costs of moving.

What is the FARE Act?
The FARE Act shifts the financial responsibility of broker fees from tenants to landlords but only when the landlord is the one who hires the broker or real estate agent to lease the unit. If a renter chooses to work with a broker on their own, they’ll still be expected to cover that cost themselves.

Landlords must also disclose all fees that tenants will pay to rent an apartment before tenants sign a rental agreement.

When Does the FARE Act Take Effect?
The FARE Act became effective on June 11, 2025, and it applies to all lease agreements signed from that date onward.

Key Impact for Renters
Lower Upfront Costs: Renters are no longer responsible for broker fees when the landlord hires the broker - this could save thousands at move-in.

Possible Rent Increases: Some concerns have been raised that landlords might raise monthly rent to offset the extra cost of paying broker fees themselves. However, units that are rent-stabilized or protected under Good Cause Eviction laws are shielded from sharp rent hikes.

When Will Renters Still Pay Broker Fees?
Renters who hire their own broker or agent directly will still pay the broker fee.

Enforcement and Penalties
Brokers must clearly disclose whom they represent before signing any contract.

All charges must be clearly listed in the rental agreement before signing.

If a fee looks unusual or inflated, ask what it covers. If the explanation isn’t clear, the listing could be in violation. Landlords and agents who don’t follow the rules may face penalties. Before signing ensure all fees are clearly documented in writing.

The FARE Act aims to reduce the upfront financial burden on renters. Understanding your rights and the new rules will help you navigate the NYC rental market.

For more information or to report violations, contact the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.

SpeedRoommating – a new event coming to Los Angeles – makes the process of finding roommates more enjoyable by taking things offline, and into a local bar. Whether you’re searching for a room or a new roommate, this is the event for you!

Loosely based on speed dating (minus the tables, timers and awkward conversations about your dating history), this is a mixer for people advertising rooms to rent and people looking for rooms and roommates. It’s also an opportunity to ‘buddy up’ with people you want to live with so you can search for apartments together.

SpeedRoommating aims to take the stress and high-pressure out of finding a room to rent in Los Angeles, and turn it into a positive, social experience. Simply show up at the venue, choose a sticker – ‘I need a room’ or ‘I need a roommate’ – grab a (free!) drink and get to meeting your next potential roommate!

The best part? The event is FREE to attend! All you have to do is sign up HERE

Location: Sassafras Saloon, 1233 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90038,
Date: Thursday, June 26
Time: 7.30PM-9.30PM

We can’t wait to see you there!

Ever wondered how much it would really cost to live in the iconic apartments of your favorite TV characters? We all know TV shows love to make it seem like living in a swanky Manhattan penthouse or a quirky LA loft is the norm, but the reality is often a little less glamorous!

So, let’s break it down and see how much it would cost you in 2025 to rent in the same neighborhoods as your beloved characters.

1. Friends – West Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York
Monica’s spacious two-bedroom apartment in the heart of West Village is the epitome of your NYC dreams. Thanks to her grandmother’s rent-controlled lease, Monica and Rachel were lucky enough to pay a mere $200 a month for such a prime location.

The area is notoriously one of the priciest neighborhoods in Manhattan. If you wanted to live in the same spot in 2025, the average roommate rent is $2,704 per month - more than 13 times what Monica and Rachel paid!

2. The Big Bang Theory – Pasadena, California
How much would it cost to live in Sheldon’s quirky, science-filled apartment in Pasadena? While the broken elevator may be a bit of a nuisance, unfortunately it wouldn’t make renting in Pasadena any cheaper. The area is known for its suburban charm and proximity to tech hubs, making it an attractive option.

If you wanted to be roommates with Sheldon and Leonard, you’d be paying on average $1,471 per month. While this may sound like a steal compared to New York City rents, it's still a significant cost.

3. New Girl – Los Angeles, California, Arts District
With floor-to-ceiling windows, a spacious kitchen and dining room, and four separate bedrooms, moving into the quirky loft with Jess, Nick, Schmidt and Winston probably sounds like an ideal living situation! While the inside of the loft was filmed in a Hollywood studio, the exterior of their apartment was shot in Downtown Los Angeles in the Arts District.

The Arts District has undergone a transformation over the past decade, turning it into one of LA's trendiest (and pricier) neighborhoods. In today's market, each roommate would pay on average $1,712 per month.

4. How I Met Your Mother – Manhattan, New York City, NY, Upper West Side
Ted Mosby’s journey to find 'the one' involved not just searching for love, but also living in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Manhattan: the Upper West Side. His apartment, full of awkward moments with his friends and endless failed dates, looked perfect. Ted’s spacious apartment was home to him, his best friend Marshall, and occasionally Robin (his on-again-off-again girlfriend).

If you wanted to live there today (with your roommates, of course), you’d be looking at $1,829 per month. Given the neighborhood's proximity to Central Park, fancy shops and cultural hotspots, this price tag will come as no surprise.

5. Grey’s Anatomy (Meredith’s House) – Seattle, Washington, Queen Ann Hill
Meredith Grey's iconic house, perched above the Puget Sound, offers breathtaking views. Meredith inherits the house from her late grandmother after she passes away which is why she’s able to afford it, despite being an intern with very little money. While Meredith lived alone at the start of the series, Cristina, Izzie, and George all stayed at Meredith’s place at different points.

If you wanted to live in the same area with roommates, you’d be looking at $1,054 per month for an average room in Seattle. Of course, Meredith’s house is anything but average so it would likely cost far more, especially with those views. Seattle does, however, have a more reasonable rent scene than New York or LA.

6. Sex and the City – Manhattan, Upper East side, New York City
Carrie Bradshaw’s iconic apartment, where she penned her column and dealt with life’s ups and downs, is located in the heart of Manhattan’s prestigious Upper East Side. Despite the apartment being in a historic 1866 brownstone, Carrie had a rent-controlled lease, which kept her rent at a reasonable $700 a month.

Living here today would require a significant financial investment, making Carrie’s apartment a pipe dream in terms of affordability. The average room rent in the Upper East Side is now $2,011 per month.

Here at SpareRoom we make it our mission to better understand what’s going on in the rental market, and to share what we’re learning with our users (that’s you!) as well as the media – so people can be better informed about what’s happening.

Right now we’re looking for people who would be happy to speak to journalists and share their experiences of living with roommates.

You would need to be comfortable supplying your full name and a photograph, and appearing in the media, which could be print magazines, newspapers, or online publications.

For taking part in media interviews, we always send our case studies gift cards upon publication of the article to say thank you.

We are looking to speak to:

• Homeowners who are over 60, retired or semi-retired, and renting out a room in their home to boost their incomes.

• Roommates aged 55+ who are renting with others due to affordability issues, but who may also be enjoying the social benefits.

• Homeowners who are renting out rooms in their homes, in any part of the US, and making an income that they spend on something specific e.g. to take vacations, to help their children through school, to fund a business venture, or anything else!

If any of these sound like you, and you think you might like to help, then please get in touch and leave your name, age, and email address, and one of the team will get back to you.

You can reach us by email: media@spareroom.com

We look forward to hearing from you!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for a lot of us - but unfortunately for those experiencing homelessness, the festive period can be particularly difficult. There are fewer support services available, and the cold weather can be brutal for anyone living on the streets.

At SpareRoom we believe that everyone should have somewhere they can call home. Home is so important, not only for our physical and mental wellbeing, but also for our dignity and security. So, here are some ideas you can implement this Christmas to help:

Connect someone to help

To send an alert if you’ve seen someone sleeping rough who you’re concerned about (in NYC), and connect them with local help services. It’s really easy to use, just call 311 and ask for mobile outreach. The operator will contact Breaking Ground or one of their partners to get help there within an hour.

Have a chat

Sleeping rough is an isolating experience, made worse by the amount of people that ignore the homeless people they walk past each day. Taking a few moments out of your day to have a chat can make a real difference to someone. A smile can go a long way.

Connect someone to food resources

So much of Christmas centres around food, yet those experiencing homelessness often struggle to afford to eat. Every state will have their own organizations who provide free meals, but it can be harder for homeless people to find them - so why not connect someone to your local soup kitchen, food bank or organization? If you're in NYC, Food Bank for NYC has a map showing all their food banks around the city, making it easy to find your nearest spot.

Donate your unwanted clothes

Thinking of refreshing your wardrobe before the new year? Your old jumpers, jackets, socks, hats and gloves could be really valuable to someone who’s sleeping rough at this time of year.

The Salvation Army has drop off locations across the country, or schedule a free pick up. Find out more here

Enter Live Rent Free

Every month, we pay for somebody's monthly rent in our Live Rent Free sweepstake. We then match this sum and donate the same amount to Breaking Ground, to help them combat homelessness and give real, practical help to those who need it most. So far, we’ve donated $133,137.50! Just by entering Live Rent Free, you're helping - enter next month's competition here.

Volunteer or donate to Breaking Ground

Breaking Ground serves more than 10,000 vulnerable New Yorkers each year through street outreach, transitional housing, and permanent supportive and affordable housing. Donating as little as $25 can help change someone's life for the better, or you can offer to volunteer vmiller@breakingground.org individually or as a group.

We've made improvements to our site to make your SpareRoom search experience even better.

A couple months ago, we asked you to share your experience using SpareRoom and what's important to you when searching for a new home or roommate. Based on your feedback, we've made a couple of changes.

Free to contact ads
78% of you told us it would be useful to filter rooms so you see the "free to contact" ads first. In the Miscellaneous section, you will now see a new checkbox for ads that are "free to contact". Selecting this option will show only ads that don't require an upgrade to contact.

No/low deposit ads
You can now filter search results to see ads that require no deposit or a low deposit (equivalent to one week's rent or less).

Posted by
63% of you who answered our survey said you'd rather deal with/see ads from landlords. We've added a new filter which allows you to do just that. You can now choose to only see ads posted by landlords, private ads (no agents / broker), current roommates or live-in landlords.

We hope these changes help you find the right room or roommate!

Start your search now. Simply, type in the area or ZIP code you want to live and filter results using the left side column.