By Gemma Morris, Sky News Reporter
A living arrangement where housework is exchanged for bargain-basement rent is proving to be a money-saving option for young people trying to get on the property ladder, while also benefiting vulnerable elderly homeowners.
The Homeshare scheme matches young people who are looking for affordable accommodation with elderly individuals who need help around the home.
Fredi Cavander-Attwood, 23, has been living with 93-year-old Olga since January.
She pays £199 per month to live at Olga's house in an area of west London that would otherwise cost her approximately the same amount per week.
Under the agreement, she spends 10 hours per week providing support to Olga.
"I help with some things, so maybe a bit of cleaning and mainly I make Olga some breakfast in the morning," she told Sky News.
"On the weekends we spend some time together, make cups of tea, things like that."
Olga - a former professional cellist who played at the Royal Wedding of Charles and Diana - enjoys the companionship, especially as Fredi also likes to play the cello.
"It's nice to have somebody in the house, somebody to talk about music to."
Olga as a young girl Fredi's rent goes to Novus - the charity that matched the pair.
Olga also pays for the scheme - £130 each month, which Novus says helps cover running costs.
Michael Coker, a Novus trustee, told Sky News the candidates are vetted carefully.
"We do intensive screening with homesharers. We carry out interviews, we take up references, we carry out DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) and checks, we do introductory visits, we do monitoring and we do a trial period at the beginning."
Olga's nephew, Ian Kearey, who applied for the scheme on her behalf, said the pair get on enormously well.
"Fredi was able, with her parents, to take Olga out to the park during the summer in a wheelchair which was a joy and a pleasure to her and she hasn't stopped talking about it really since."
It was not all plain sailing though.
"It took a little while to get Olga to come round to the idea of this because she's been very strongly independent and lived in the same house for 60 years."
Ian believes the scheme is a good alternative to housing an elderly relative in a care home.
"It means that somebody can stay in their own house, which for so many people, is incredibly important."
Fredi was asked if there was any limit on the duration of the scheme.
"Until Olga gets fed up of me," she said.
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