To say a flat share is the only answer here ?

[IceAndLemonPlease]

Friend is 40 next month and upset as she can’t afford to move out alone as a single person in London. She is still living with parents which I know is a source of much embarrassment for her. She does work but has illnesses, chronic ones which impact on energy and mobility, however controlled enough not to qualify for anything. I see her only solution is a flat share but she seems against that. Aibu to say this is her only option at this point ? She doesn’t drive either which doesn’t help matters.

Sure, but moving away from her whole life and support system is a much bigger deal than just moving house. Her parents and presumably friends are in London too - plus her health issues likely add complications. Moving completely to another city is certainly an option she can weigh, but it's not an easy fix for the housing issue.

You are correct there Sylvie.
I couldn’t do that myself. Crappy situation to be in.
To answer the other posters question, no, she is a very quiet person who likes her own space, definitely not a social butterfly. But very kind, caring and thoughtful. She’s a lovely friend and so I wish I had answers to help her out here.

No, it's not an easy fix. Unfortunately though if your finances are limited and the housing market what it is you have to cut your cloth. I'm a low earner myself, and live in a housing association flat, it's not ideal and I'd rather have a nice house but I can't afford one so that's that. I couldn't afford my own place in London, my friend lives there and pays more for a shared house than I do for a 2 bed flat in the midlands.

Hooray only the second post before someone mentions moving up north where it’s cheap!!
yes, it might be cheaper than London but she’d still need a job, and doesn’t drive which would li it options, she might have caring responsibilities for parents etc etc etc…..it’s not that easy to just up sticks and move to cheaper housing 🙄
but personally I wouldn’t rather live in a flat share than live with my parents!

There is always a risk in sharing - you only have to look on Mumsnet to see threads about difficult flatmates. But she is in a better position than most having her parents house to go back to if necessary.

There are special sites for Over 40 flatshares, if she is worried about sharing with a load of party hearty 24 year olds (as I would be!)

She could look into applying to housing associations. Some will only accept applications from particular London boroughs (often only from people who are on the housing list for that borough - however she could get onto the list, especially as she can presumably prove a long-lasting local connection to wherever her parents are?) and there may be a wait, but it could be worth it in the long term.