I think he was looking to do thatand its true the cheapest way for a young person moving to a new area is to house or flat share saves a fortune in rent and bills.
I have seen local places all in for less than 275 a month for one person in a room and with the ecomonic situation i could see many more householders doing the same. With the four thousand a year i think it is before tax some may prefer to keep it fairly low to avoid tax and paperwork.
Many people from abroad rent a room and find if they can find a person from there culture even if a mixed marriage for example it helps them with homesickness.
The wife had a former workmate who was burmanese who rent a room with a burmanse/brit couple which he loved as they already had cheap service to call home so he just contributed and they often had foods from home which the wife liked he said as the hubby not keen on eating some
I know our local phill food shop always has adverts for rooms from phill families looking for lodgers again not huge rents and most happy if it a phill so they have extra company as well.