University Flatmates / House sharing Advice
I hope you’re all well. I’ll be starting a placement in Horsham this June and am currently looking for a house share in or around the area. I’m hoping to share with another female intern who’ll be based nearby. Since I haven’t met or spoken to anyone yet, I’d really appreciate some advice on how to approach a potential housemate for the first time, what signs might indicate a good fit and what possible red flags I should be aware of when deciding whether to live together. If anyone has experience with this or any tips on what to discuss before moving in together, I’d be grateful for your guidance.
Thanks in advance!
Reply 1
I hope you’re all well. I’ll be starting a placement in Horsham this June and am currently looking for a house share in or around the area. I’m hoping to share with another female intern who’ll be based nearby. Since I haven’t met or spoken to anyone yet, I’d really appreciate some advice on how to approach a potential housemate for the first time, what signs might indicate a good fit and what possible red flags I should be aware of when deciding whether to live together. If anyone has experience with this or any tips on what to discuss before moving in together, I’d be grateful for your guidance.
Thanks in advance!
Hello,
If you know a few people at university, you can approach them to be your flatmates. Regarding red and green flags, you need to directly ask them and set a certain criteria/level of how you’d like it to be. Most people are honest when it comes to house sharing because everyone wants a suitable place. You can also look on Spareroom where they allow you to list the characteristics of who you want to share with.
-Sarah (Kingston Rep)
Reply 2
I hope you’re all well. I’ll be starting a placement in Horsham this June and am currently looking for a house share in or around the area. I’m hoping to share with another female intern who’ll be based nearby. Since I haven’t met or spoken to anyone yet, I’d really appreciate some advice on how to approach a potential housemate for the first time, what signs might indicate a good fit and what possible red flags I should be aware of when deciding whether to live together. If anyone has experience with this or any tips on what to discuss before moving in together, I’d be grateful for your guidance.
Thanks in advance!
Hey @lia1003 , I hope you are doing great! Firstly, this is a sensible thing to think about before jumping into a house share. I have had friends rush it and regret it later! Though I do not have the personal experience, I have helped friends through the same situation, so I hope this will be helpful to you too!
How to approach a potential housemate:
Okay, so I would always say, keep it friendly but intentional. So by this, you are not interviewing them but you are feeling out whether your lifestyles match.
How my friends did it:
•
A quick intro: where they were from, what their placement was, roughly what their day to day looks like
•
What kind of housemates they were (tidy, relaxed, quiet etc)
•
They asked open-ended questions instead of yes/no ones so that you get to know them more
Remember to focus on how people answer because it does genuinely tell you a lot!
As for signs someone could be a good fit:
From experience:
•
They answer questions clearly and openly
•
Have a similar daily rhythm (early mornings vs night owls can clash badly haha)
•
Talk about compromises naturally
•
Seem respectful when talking about past housemates, or past living situations
•
The conversations feel easy and not forced, that is a really good sign!
Potential red flags:
•
Avoiding talking about cleaning, bills or boundaries
•
Saying things like, "I'm chill" I promise you, it actually causes problems 😂
•
Complains HEAVILY about ALL previous housemates, most of the time, it was actually them
•
Is vague when responding to questions
•
Makes you feel awkward for asking normal questions
I would honestly say just trust your gut, if something feels off early on, it usually is.
My friends and I compiled a list about things to ask and here it is (it might seem awkward at first but it helps!):
•
Cleaning (what is their routine, and how you'll deal with issues if standards slip)
•
Money (bills, rent, how bills are split and paid)
•
Lifestyle (guests staying over, noise levels)
•
Practical stuff (contract length, breaking clauses, what happens if one of you wants to move out early)
Obviously you can add more, this is more of a guideline!
Something my friends and I realised during their journey was that you do not need to be best friends with these people. You just need to be compatible. As long as there is respect, communication and no avoiding serious conversations you will absolutely be fine. All the best on your search, I hope this helped 🙂
Ru
BCU student rep.
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