Choosing between a Homeshare agency and an independent arrangement involves balancing safety, support, and convenience that comes through using a professional agency, against the cost and direct control of finding a Sharer privately.
Agencies offer peace-of-mind through stringent vetting, a detailed licence agreement and experienced ongoing support; independent sharing arrangements may provide a little more flexibility but require significant personal effort and risk assessment. As the cost of having a Sharer through a Homeshare agency is very low, are the risks of ‘going it alone’ really worth it?
In an era defined by rising costs of living, increasing pressures on the care sector, and growing awareness of the positives of community, Homeshare has emerged as a practical, compassionate and much-needed solution. It connects people with a spare room who would benefit from a level of live-in practical help to continue to live independently in their own home, with helpful people looking for accommodation, thereby creating mutually-beneficial living arrangements.
Some people may think, ‘Why do I need to use an agency? I can just find someone myself online?’. This is true, but here we explore the pros of using an agency, and some of the potential pitfalls of managing a Homeshare independently.
Finding the ‘right match’
An experienced agency will have a professional website which will usually have a regularly-updated ‘listings page’ of available Homeshare opportunities. They may also have a database of potential Sharers who are interested in Homeshare opportunities in specific areas.
Additionally, they will use other online accommodation sites to advertise specific opportunities, sites that anyone could use if they are looking independently.
Depending on the location of an opportunity, an Ad on one of these sites might receive upwards of 100 enquiries. This is an enormous number of enquiries for an individual to process, and to decide which applicants may, or may not, be suitable.
An experienced agency will have a depth of knowledge to help them assess which enquiries to follow-up on, and which applicants to invite to a detailed interview. During interview, an agency’s questions are designed to ‘weed out’ people who may not be suitable for whatever reason. At this stage, the applicant only has general details of the potential Homeshare, so there is no direct contact and the Householder is protected.
With a professional agency, when they have interviewed a candidate who is a good match, and when they have checked their ID, Right to Rent, and references, at that stage their profile would be put forward to the Householder/their family to assess and decide if they would like to meet; the Householder’s identity is kept private until that stage.
For an individual, deciding who to interview can be a daunting process; it is also harder for an individual to curtail an interview or tell a candidate that they are not suitable, for example for concern about ‘being rude’, or for fear of repercussions as the candidate has the householder/their family member’s contact details.
Rigorous Vetting and Safety Checks
Before a Sharer moves into a Homeshare with a family, it is really important that they are fully-vetted and an agency will conduct extensive safeguarding procedures.
In addition to ID verification and Right-to-Rent checks (which are a legal obligation) and immigration status, a Homeshare agency apply for an Enhanced DBS Check* as well as a Credit Check which will also disclose any County Court Judgements (CCJs) against the applicant. These checks are paramount for peace-of-mind and security.
* An individual cannot apply for an Enhanced DBS Check on another person (or themselves); Enhanced checks are strictly for employers or eligible organisations to request for specific roles involving regulated activity with children or vulnerable adults, requiring the individual’s consent and adherence to strict eligibility criteria. Because Enhanced DBS Checks reveal sensitive criminal record information, they are legally restricted to roles where someone’s suitability to work with vulnerable groups needs assessing. Only registered employers or umbrella bodies (acting as intermediaries) can initiate these checks for eligible positions, ensuring proper safeguarding.
An individual would only be able to apply for a Basic DBS Check shows only unspent convictions and conditional cautions, while an Enhanced DBS check includes all that information plus any relevant details held by local police and checks against the barred lists, making it the most thorough check for roles involving children or vulnerable adults.
Legal Framework and Licence Agreement
A reputable Homeshare agency will use a comprehensive, legally-vetted and drawn-up Licence Agreements which is specifically worded to avoid creating a contract of employment or tenancy rights for the Sharer, thus ensuring that both parties are protected.
These documents are regularly updated to reflect changes in legislation, offering robust legal protection that an individual without legal expertise would struggle to replicate.
Clarity of roles and indedendent advice
A Homeshare agency will ensure that there are clear boundaries and expectations of the arrangement, which are essential for clarity. Much of this will be included withing the Homeshare Licence Agreement – including the normal duties, house rules and expectations both for the Householder and the Sharer.
However, the on-going involvement of an agency plays a very important role in helping to minimise and resolve potential misunderstandings and conflicts along the way.
Things can change during the life of a Homeshare match, whether it’s a change in a Householder’s physical and/or mental health, and change in the Sharer’s job/availability, or a perhaps a change to other third-party involvement (eg family members / carer/ care agencies). Even in what has been a happy and settled arrangement, these and any number of other factors can have an impact on a Homeshare, and may require help to navigate.
Managing issues and conflicts can be stressful, especially when directly involved. When we’re directly involved in a situation, it can be hard to step back from our own feelings. That sometimes makes it difficult to see how the situation might look from the other person’s perspective, or what impact it might be having on them. Having a bit of distance can help bring a clearer, more balanced view of what’s happening for everyone.
Being one-step removed from the arrangement, an Homeshare agency can draw on its extensive experience and act as an impartial arbitrator, listening to all parties’ perspectives and helping to seek a resolution.
A professional agency will also have established procedures for conflict resolution, which helps to prevent small disagreements or misunderstanding from escalating into relationship breakdowns or legal battles. The clear terms of the Homeshare Licence Agreement, alongside stringent Safeguarding procedures also offer the security of the Agency helping to navigate the termination of an arrangement if notice has to be served.
Homeshare can change lives — but only when it’s done well.
A professional agency removes much of the risk, complexity and uncertainty, replacing it with expertise, structure and support. For most people, that peace of mind is not just valuable — it’s essential.
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