Jennifer Lewis, a 55-year-old grandmother from Cardiff, has been living in a house of multiple occupancy (HMO) in the city's student district of Cathays for eight years. She says she has no choice but to live like a student because rental prices have become 'unachievable'.
Rent nearly doubles in a decade
According to the Office for National Statistics, the average rent in Cardiff rose from £681 in January 2015 to £1,157 in April 2026, almost doubling over 11 years. Ms Lewis works full-time at a supermarket five days a week but can only afford to share a house with four others.
'The prices have just gone up, especially in the housing market, and with that increasing cost [it] is unachievable for myself as a sole earner,' she said. She described the rent increases as 'right across the board' and affecting 'lots of other people'.
Living in fear and poor health
While Ms Lewis considers having a room in a shared house 'a blessing', she admitted it 'brings a certain level of fear' because she doesn't know 'what to expect from each tenant and what could happen at any time'. She said this creates 'quite a high level of alertness which isn't good for your health overall'.
Ms Lewis suffers from arthritis, which she and her doctors say is worsened by her housing conditions. 'I have pain every day, although I just think of how I can help myself with stretching and trying to keep my stress levels low,' she said. 'That’s where it’s very difficult in a shared house because you’re always on a high alert to protect yourself – it’s a form of self protection.'
Exhausting daily routine
In addition to her full-time job, Ms Lewis cares for her grandchildren who live with her daughter in north Cardiff. She described her life as 'exhausting' from every angle. 'Cooking is exhausting because I’m having to keep everything in my room wrapped up because of rummaging in cupboards in the kitchen, trying to do washing in the short space of time I have isn’t always possible. Drying isn’t always possible because of my time limits – it’s all exhausting.'
Council waiting list and plea for help
Ms Lewis has been on Cardiff Council’s housing waiting list for three years. She believes she should be a higher priority. 'I understand the council has got procedures in place but I am saying now, eight years in shared housing, I am a priority,' she said. She urged the council to build more housing and allocate it more fairly, adding: 'I don’t feel that the council are looking at people’s cases more personally, because I keep pushing the health, social and safety issues in shared housing and I don’t feel the council are listening and looking at that fully.'
'I am claiming a pension, I’m paying my taxes, I am child-caring and at what point do they think it’s acceptable to class a 55-year-old female living in a shared house a low priority?' she asked.
Council response
A Cardiff Council spokesperson said: 'Cardiff is experiencing unprecedented demand for social housing, with the number of households seeking a home far exceeding the number of properties available. There are currently around 9,700 households on the housing waiting list in Cardiff, highlighting the significant pressure on the city’s housing system.'
'Applications for housing are assessed in accordance with Cardiff’s Housing Allocations Policy, ensuring that each applicant’s individual needs, circumstances and vulnerabilities are carefully considered when determining housing priority. This can include factors such as homelessness, medical or welfare needs, and whether a person’s current accommodation is having a significant impact on their health or wellbeing.'
'Ms Lewis joined the housing waiting list in 2023 and was awarded a medium housing need priority. Her application has been reviewed on a number of occasions and her assessment remains unchanged. Priority for social housing is not awarded on the basis of age alone, although some housing schemes are designated for specific age groups.'
'While housing preferences do not affect an applicant’s priority, they can significantly affect waiting times. We will be contacting Ms Lewis to discuss her housing options and provide advice on widening her choices, which may increase her opportunities for rehousing. We recognise the challenges many people face in finding affordable housing and are working to increase the supply of social homes across Cardiff as quickly and responsibly as possible. This includes building new council homes including new developments designed for older people, delivering major regeneration schemes, purchasing additional properties and working with housing association partners to provide more affordable homes for local residents.'
