( CNN ) -- Paul Bailey shares his London home with two strangers , Alejandro and Fernando . More than a million people in the British capital now live in flatshares . And while this kind of living arrangement used to be associated with students and youthful television sitcoms , more and more mature people find themselves living with strangers . Like Bailey , who is 43 . `` What we are seeing now more than ever is an increase in the amount of people over 40 looking for flatshares , '' Matt Hutchkinson from flatmate-finding service Spareroom said . `` At the moment , one in eight people in flatshares is over 40 and that 's a real shift from three to . four years ago , '' he says . Bailey was forced to find flatmates after separating from his partner of 15 years . `` It was a fleeting thought that 'oh my god ' I 'm going to have to do it again . I 'm 43 years old , '' he said . `` The last time I lived with someone was in my 20s -- how is this going to work ? '' With rents in London reaching the double of the national average , sharing is often the only option . UK Census figures show that 15 % of people living in London share their homes with people they are not related to . In the U.S. , the numbers are also rising . The number of shared households involving flatmates who are neither related to each other nor a couple grew by one fifth in the decade between 2000 and 2010 , according to the U.S. census . In New York City alone , the number of flats shared by strangers reached 200,000 in 2011 . Websites helping people find their ideal flatmates , such as Spareroom , Flatshare and Roombuddies are booming . Spareroom says it saw a 20 % increase in the number of people looking for roommates in January compared to last year . In New York City , 2,500 room offers in shared properties were posted on advertising site Craigslist in the first four days of April . As for Paul Bailey , he seems to be happy with his new living arrangements . `` It 's been three , four months and it 's been brilliant . I come home and see the little light on and go 'yay ' , I 've got someone at home , I have someone to talk to , '' he said .
15 % of people living in London share their homes with people they are not related to . Comment: