More and more people are choosing to share an apartment, not just students, as a more economical way to live. This means paying a reduced amount of rent for a room and cohabitating with other people, which can sometimes be problematic. To avoid living with an insufferable flatmate, we recommend that you ask some basic questions before you move: from how the household chores will be divided, how much mess and noise people can make, as well as a clear pet policy.
- Shared rent payment: Before going through how much each person has to pay, it’s best to be clear about what level of rent everyone is able to pay. Whether you’re the owner and rent out the rooms in your property, whether you have rented one through a real estate agency or directly with the landlord, you should make it clear what day of the month the rent is to be paid. It is usually within the first five days of the month.
- Visits: One of the most contentious parts of living with other people is the policy on visits from friends, colleagues and partners. Do you have to tell your roommate when you invite someone over? How long before? Three days before? Half an hour? It all depends on how much trust you have between you. What about if you have a quick fling and want to bring the person home? Just be open and natural about everything with your roomies and you should be alright. It’s one thing for them to spend a few hours at home, but quite another for your friends to come and stay with you for a few days. If in doubt, raise the issue and talk about it beforehand.
- Household chores: This is another of the key questions for living together. Everyone is very kind and helpful at first, but inevitably standards slip. Many people eventually decide to hire a cleaner to come and tidy the house at least once a week. But you have to be able to pay for it. It’s not good to do these things if not everyone is prepared to pay. Another good idea would be to establish weekly tasks by way of a cleaning rota that everyone can agree on.
- Pets: Living in a house with a pet, whether it's a dog or a cat, or bringing one in, is a topic that should be discussed very seriously. Would you be able to take care of your roomie’s pet when they go on a trip? What to do if you all leave for Christmas, for example? This is another issue that everyone in the house must agree on before taking action.
- Cleanliness and noise: Another thing to talk about frankly is how clean and quiet people are, as everyone has their own hobbies and personal hygiene and their own limits for these things. It is not the same to clean the bathroom every week as doing it once a month, so it’s better talk about these things than to discover them after it’s too late.
- Heating and air conditioning temperature: Another point of conflict between flatmates may be that one person is naturally cold-blooded and the other hot, and they will never agree on where to set the thermostat. It will also depend a lot on whether there is central heating or not, and which floor the apartment is located on, so you’ll have to come to an agreement on this.
- How to decorate the house: If you rent a furnished house, it won't be too complicated, although decorating the walls of the living room should be something to agree upon. If you arrive after everyone else is already living there, you will have to just adapt to the existing decor, except in your bedroom. It's up to you to decide whether to buy furniture, both for your room and for the common areas. Remember that you’ll have to either leave them or take them with you if you move house.
- Timetables: Living with someone who has the same work or study schedule as you can be a plus, at least when it comes to eating and sleeping. The story is usually more complicated with someone who works night shifts or weekends.
From the original article: 11 Questions to Ask Your New Roommate (Before You Move In) (Apartment Therapy)
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