Looking for a flatshare
Tuesday 16 August 2005
Not everybody moves into a place to rent with a group of friends.
If you're on your own and looking for a place to rent, you don't necessarily have to struggle to afford a place of your own; you don't have to miss out on the house sharing experience.
Newcomer alert
A good way to meet new people is to move into a room in a house where people are living already. They'll probably already have their own ground rules and systems in place, which can be a good thing if you don't like thrashing out rules and regulations, but a bad thing if you like a bit of control in the household.
They might either be a group of friends that moved in together or a group of people who came to live in the house at different stages.
Keep an eye out
When you're looking around a house that already has a group living there, take a friend with you so that you have another pair of eyes scanning the place for potential problems. Pay close attention to the rest of the group and see how they get on with each other. Are there any tensions they might be hiding because they're desperate to get rid of the room?
You might want to ask them why the room has become available. It could be that their flatmate just wanted a change of scene, but might also be because they're a nightmare to live with.
Group thing
Moving in with a large, already established group can be a risk but it can also be a lot of fun. Be open and honest from the start about the sort of person you are and they will hopefully do the same, so that you can make the right decision. If you're the quiet type who likes to study in the evening, moving in with ten all singing, all dancing party animals might not be the best idea.
Large groups of people might also be messy, so if you're a clean freak you might have to chill out and grit your teeth if you really rate the room.
Just the two of us
If you'd prefer to flatshare on a smaller scale, a good idea might be to find someone else who's looking for a flat. It's a good idea if you do this with someone you know, because a smaller number of flatmates means a smaller flat, and if you don't know each other too well, you could be in for a few nasty shocks when you do start sharing.
Give and take
Looking for somewhere to live together can be fun but you need to be clear about what you do and don't want. Agreeing to move into somewhere that you're not keen on but your potential flatmate loves isn't a good idea; you might end up hating it and resenting your flatmate's choice, leading to arguments.
Sit down together and agree some definite no-nos as well as the things you both definitely want. Discussing things and reaching compromises before you move in together is a good start to the flatsharing experience.
