Homeshare Oxfordshire
Supporting Independence, Affordability and Friendship
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Homeshare Oxfordshire carefully matches older people who are looking for help or companionship at home, with another person who can lend a hand, and needs affordable accommodation.
In return for the accommodation the Sharer gives the Householder up to 10 hours of their time each week as a combination of companionship and practical help.
Each Homeshare match is individual and carefully agreed. It may include some cooking and light housework, help with computers and technology, maybe some shopping or gardening, spending time together over a meal or cup of tea as well as occasional trips out. The reassuring presence of another person in the house overnight is often an additional benefit for the Householder.
A Homeshare match does not involve any personal care.
What are the costs?
Monthly fees are payable to Homeshare Oxfordshire by Householders and Sharers. The Sharer pays a monthly fee of £200 and the Householder pays £100 per month, the equivalent of approximately £3 a day. These fees pay for the regular support provided by the Homeshare team to the arrangement and enable Homeshare Oxfordshire to be run as a sustainable scheme.
The Sharer makes a contribution to the Householder of an agreed amount towards household costs.
Please see the Applying to Homeshare Oxfordshire document for further information and to check if a Homeshare arrangement might be right for you. Take a look at Homeshare Oxfordshire Accommodation Availability for our list of current opportunities.
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Facebook: @homeshareoxford Twitter: @HomeshareOxford Instagram: @homeshareoxfordshire
Homeshare Oxfordshire is supported by:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can couples be Householders and Sharers?
Yes – it might take longer to place Sharer couples, but by all means please get in touch with us.
Can Householders and Sharers have pets?
I don’t own my home, can I still be a Householder?
We ask anyone who doesn’t own their home outright to seek permission from their mortgage provider or Landlord before applying to be a Householder for Homeshare Oxford.
Local Authority Housing – You will need to ask permission to have a Sharer join you in your home and how contribution to bills may affect your Benefits. If you would like to be a Householder, we recommend you speak to us before applying and we can support you to have a conversation with the council about how this may change your benefits, so that you can take this into consideration before you decide to apply.
What are the minimum and maximum lengths of a Homeshare?
We say that a Homeshare should be a minimum of 6 months.
If an end date is already known at the beginning of a Homeshare (eg. a student who know when they will be moving on) we will include these details in the agreements. If an end date is not known, the match can roll on month by month.
If either the Householder or Sharer wants to move on from a match, they need to give one month’s notice. This can be given at any stage in the match, and we will support both the Householder and Sharer if and when a match comes to an end.
When will a Sharer provide the 10 hours Help around the Home?
The 10 hours Help around the Home needs to be agreed and to fit around a Sharer’s work or studies and a Householder’s preferences. It is quite likely that it will fall into evening and weekends if the Sharer is working or studying full time. The preferences of the Householder and availability of the Sharer are taken into account by the Homeshare team when looking at suitability of two people for a Homeshare.
How will it work when Householder or Sharer is away on holiday or for weekends?
We recommend that you let each other know well in advance of going away so that plans can be made to cover any additional support needed for Householders. Similarly, if a Householder is going to be away they may be reassured to know that the Sharer will be around in their absence. A Homeshare arrangement may not work for Sharers who are likely to be away a lot or for extended periods of time. Please get in touch if this is the case so that we can discuss this.
I am a student and I go home/away from Oxford during term breaks, can I be a Sharer?
In general, Homeshare is not suitable for students who will only be around during term-time. But there may be occasions when this might work, so please do get in touch with us.
Contact Homeshare Oxfordshire
Please complete the enquiry form below and we will contact you shortly. For any queries email homeshare@ageukoxfordshire.org.uk or call 01865 410 670.
Further information
HOMESHARE OXFORDSHIRE ACCOMMODATION March 2021 v1.pdf (PDF, 402 KB)
Abingdon Homeshare Opportunity1. OX14 (Ref 054).pdf (PDF, 214 KB)
Chipping Norton Homeshare Opportunity, OX7 (Ref 034).pdf (PDF, 225 KB)
Leafield Homeshare Opportunity OX29 (Ref 048)1.pdf (PDF, 221 KB)
Oxford, Jericho, Homeshare Opportunity OX2 (Ref 055) .pdf (PDF, 218 KB)
Oxford, Greater Leys, Homeshare Opportunity OX4 (Ref 049).pdf (PDF, 223 KB)
Witney, West End, Homeshare Opportunity OX28 (Ref 035).pdf (PDF, 234 KB)
Stanford-in-the-Vale Homeshare Opportunity SN7 (Ref 052)[2].pdf (PDF, 207 KB)