The number of people looking to rent rooms in shared houses and flats appears to be growing as more seek to save money on their living costs.

Easyroommate says that numbers of applicants on its website is increasing and easily outpaces supply.

Last year, it recorded an average of 36,886 people looking for a room at any one time. It is currently recording 37,468 applicants, but only 7,000 rooms – suggesting a huge shortfall. Most landlords are seeking a non-smoking professional female as a flatmate.

By far the greatest demand for flatshare rooms on the website is in London, where 15,162 prospective flat-sharers are registered, way ahead of the next highest, Manchester, with 1,578.

Under the Government’s Rent a Room scheme, live-in owner-landlords can earn up to £4,250 a year before having to pay tax.