You may be “youthful”, engaged with the world, erudite, and educated; you may possess a sharp sense of humour, like to socialise and enjoy contemporary culture and music. But it is sadly the case that healthy, prospective flat-sharers visibly in their 60s have little chance of passing rigorous vetting procedures such as speed flatmate finding sessions, or those combative group interview panels – especially when all the other applicants are in their 20s and 30s.

Many healthy older renters nurse a fear of sheltered housing, which is designed for people frailer and less independent than they are. What older healthy tenants require is never a tiny room with space for a single bed, hand-rails and a commode but no storage. What they really want is a home, a comfortable, secure, affordable home where they can stay a while (having perhaps a further 40 years left ahead of them). They might move into a care home eventually, but what they need right now is the same as everyone else – a secure place to stay. …”