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Will Boarding Houses Solve the Housing Crisis?
An Old American Pastime Could House Everyone
What is a Boarding House?
A boarding house contains private lockable rooms with shared kitchens and bathrooms. They are usually bigger than share houses, and the tenants enjoy more privacy than a roommate situation. Tenants typically live on a month to month lease and are in a transient state in their lives. Because the landlord does not have to build a kitchen and bathroom in each unit, the rent is a fraction of what an apartment would be.
My Experience Living in a Boarding House
I lived in a boarding house in Sydney, Australia for 18 months. The rent was 50% lower than a comparable flat in the same neighborhood. My neighbors were mostly young people and backpackers. There were also some middle aged people living there temporarily for work or simply down on their luck. It was great getting on my feet in a high cost global city, while also being able to travel and invest.
Why They Disappeared in the U.S.
This is a great in depth article on the history of boarding houses in the U.S. and why they disappeared:
