More people than ever are having to house share before getting themselves on the property ladder, but there is a reason that a famous philosopher once said that hell was other people! Moving in with someone can cause all kinds of trouble, depending on who you are sharing with. I’ve been there and done that, and here are my top eight tips to make house sharing survivable…
1. Profiles…
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Before you move in, find out about the ages of people who live in the flat, or who will be living there. For example, is there an equal balance of sexes? And is the average age under twenty, in which case they might still be students, or under fifty, who probably won’t appreciate late night partying?
2. Hobbies…
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Once you’ve decided you are compatible in theory, it’s time to look into more details. Think about your everyday hobbies, and what others have stated. I once lived with someone who had a bird watching hobby. Pretty harmless, right? Wrong! If a website flagged up a bird that could be nearby, he would wake the whole flat loudly getting ready and leaving, and leave a huge mess tracking down his camera and bird books. Not to mention the huge strops!
3. House Rules
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Read through the house rules. While it might not seem important, you might think otherwise when you discover that you have to clean seven times a week, take turns to hoover once an hour and that your work will be checked by “surprise” visits from the landlord at 3 a.m. Right!
4. Friends?
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Think carefully before renting with friends. It might not be the easy option! Your slightly cheap friend might be funny on a night out, but when she never replaces the milk, it’ll be expensive and annoying. Discuss rules, jobs and attitudes, and then decide if you are compatible housemates.
5. Partners?
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Make rules regarding partners. My boyfriend used to live in a shared flat before we moved in together, and one of the girls had a new man often. There was always a different guy in the flat but I couldn’t decide if that was better or worse than another housemate whose boyfriend had taken to standing around the kitchen almost naked for most of the day, and making inappropriate jokes. Partners can be a battleground!
6. Couples?
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What happens if relationships start in the flat, or someone wants to move in their partner? Relationships are often bitter for months when they go bad, especially if someone was hurt or didn’t want it to end. And if someone moves out in a rush, it could left to the rest of you to pay their rent. Think carefully before moving in with couples!
7. Bills
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How will you split the bills? Taking one each seems to be common, but that leaves you chasing other housemates for payment every month, and you are liable should they not pay. Some companies won’t accept more than two names on an account, and how do you know who used what share of the telephone bill or water? Make sure there is a system, and if you can, ask how many issues there have been.
8. Be respectable
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Your dad doesn’t need to walk in on you waiting for your tan to dry, and your flatmates don’t want to hear your sex life. Try to be as respectful as possible, and make yourself easy to live with. If you get along with everyone, you are much less likely to have issues with them.
I’m so glad I don’t house share anymore! That said, if you do your research, it can be a brilliant way to get some independence without tying yourself into an expensive rent or jumping on the property ladder too soon. Have you got a tip for making house sharing more survivable? Please let me know!
Top Photo Credit: laurenmarek
