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Traditionally it is young adults who have to share properties with friends to afford rent and bills while on low wages, or saving to get on the housing ladder.

But campaigners fear elderly and vulnerable people will have to live with family members or friends to cope with the soaring gas and electricity prices when the colder nights start to draw in this autumn.

Average energy bills are forecast to rocket to £3,549 a year from next month, with further increases predicted for January and April next year.

Chris Brooks, Head of Policy at Age UK, said the return of extended families – parents living with their children – could be the only option for those unable to afford to eat and heat this winter.

He said: “It seems like a logical thing that could well happen, a decision some people could have to take because housing costs are high and this is one of the main expenditures for most people.”

“So to save money on this, as well as on fuel bills, it may well start happening.”

“My guess, as we go into winter, is that might become more common as people need to start turning their heating on start taking the difficult decisions on how to save money.”

He urged the 770,000 households eligible for pension credits to claim this benefit.But as some pensioners’ incomes are just over the threshold and they are struggling now, he said it is “important that the Government puts in place the right measures to support people this winter because there is no substitute for enabling people to heat their own homes”.

Mr Brooks explained: “As the weather starts to get cooler and as we move into autumn, it’s going to be really important that the Prime Minister outlines what they are going to do to support people through this difficult period.”

“We hear quite a lot from older people, even from those who may be able to heat their homes, that there is often a fear and lack of confidence that they can actually afford to do so.”

“People need to know from the get-go that the money will be coming in to support them and the Government will deliver on their promises to make sure people can keep their heating on and don’t have to take these difficult decisions.”

But he cautioned: “It is still quite warm at the moment, it’s going to get worse as we head into winter – and it could get a lot worse.”

“If the new Prime Minister does not put into place the right support to help people meet their costs, it could be catastrophic. If people are turning their heating off and taking really difficult choices like not eating properly to spend less money, then that can have a severe impact on people’s health.”

“It could even lead to more people dying, an increase in excess winter deaths.” Dennis Reed, Director of Silver Voices, stressed that while moving in with relatives or friends was not an option for everyone, he has already heard of some older people doing it.

He said: “There is the odd case we have heard about – not the sharing with other older people, but certainly moving in with relatives.”

“But to be honest this is not practical for most people. Working families themselves are struggling, they can’t necessarily afford to look after their older relatives and they may not have the space in their homes to do so.”

Mr Reed pointed out that many older people have mobility or medical needs that rule out sharing – while most younger relatives cannot afford to install a granny flat, or may live in a different part of the country.  

He said: “The reality is there are older people living on their own or with a partner of similar age who have nowhere to turn.”

“It might happen in a few cases but this is not going to be any sort of solution for most people.”

At the same time, many pensioners live in large houses but do not have the means to downsize, Mr Reed noted.

He said: “They are left in cold large rooms in many cases but with very little income, just the state pension – and these things just don’t add up.”

Mr Reed added that proposed “warm hubs”, to be set up in libraries and museums, were not workable as many older people are housebound or will struggle to get to them on public transport.

Mr Brooks agreed, saying: “There may be a role for warm banks but it’s no substitute for allowing people to heat their homes properly – so that should be the absolute priority.”

Mr Reed called for the new Prime Minister to immediately increase the basic State Pension for all, as this is “the easiest way to resolve pensioner poverty” which will affect up to “two thirds of all state pensioners as a result of this energy crisis”.

Regulator Ofgem has confirmed the energy price cap is to rise by 80 per cent next month, meaning the average household’s yearly bill will go from £1,971 to £3,549.

Experts say the cap could reach a staggering £7,700 next year.

And as fears about the winter intensify, a third of the population have said they could refuse to pay their energy bills as a protest against soaring prices.

Polling by GB News found 33 percent of people would back a grassroots campaign of non-payment of bills.

Support was strongest in London, with 40 percent prepared to halt their payments.

Mr Reed said he does not back the Don’t Pay campaign – and he urged those struggling to contact their supplier to tell them “your life will be at risk” without their help.

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