I know someone who seems to have found quite a neat solution. Rather than rent the house to a family at a 'whole house' rent, he has rented to a single person who occupies one bedroom (and has use of the rest of the house) at a single person rent. The single person is delighted to have the whole house to himself and in return mows grass etc. So the house is occupied without the nuisance of having a family move in with all their belongings, and there is the bonus of having some money coming in.