Property is expensive, and whether you’re renting or buying, it’s always more cost-effective to share than to live alone. But if you’re not in a relationship, you might not have an obvious person to co-habit with and instead may be in the position of recruiting a housemate. Living with another person can be stressful, especially if you don’t get on well. So choosing the right person to live with is crucial.
The first step is to decide whether you would prefer to live with someone you already know. This brings obvious benefits, as you’ll already have a good idea if you will get on and you’ll know if you can trust the person. However, don’t assume your best friend will make a good housemate. You may get on well when socialising but living together is a different story and can put a strain on a friendship. You may prefer to keep your friend at a distance so that you can protect your friendship.
If you’re advertising for a new flatmate, be clear about the type of person you are looking for. Perhaps it’s important that they are a non-smoker or someone who works similar hours to you.
Once you’ve found your perfect housemate, it’s a good idea to agree on some basic house rules. This may seem unnecessary if you get on really well but agreeing ground rules now can save arguments later. Things to consider are how you will split food costs and what the rules are on bringing friends back to the house. You don’t want to return after a long day at work to find that there’s no food in the fridge and your housemate is having a party.
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