The Definitive Guide: Professional House Sharing

  May 15, 2020       No Comments   

What is a house share?

House sharing is typically where two or more people live in the same accommodation as one another, and they will share common communal areas such as bathrooms, living rooms and kitchens. Students and young professionals commonly use house shares.

How does a house share work?

House shares may appear to be complicated however they can be quite straightforward as long as all housemates work together. In terms of cleaning up the house, this will depend on the routine of all house mates however a common method of communal cleaning is create a rotor so that jobs around the house are split evenly. In terms of bills and splitting costs, this is normally divided between the amount of people within a house share however there can be exceptions, for example if someone has a smaller room they may pay less share of the rent. How a houseshare works will depend on the housemates and it is something for the housemates to decide amongst themselves.

How to find the perfect professional house share

The number of professionals that are now looking to rent a room in a shared house with like-minded people is growing. With huge benefits like allowing them to live closers to where they work and also not to mention the cheaper rent – it is no wonder that these numbers are increasing. However, trying to find the perfect houseshare can seem daunting – we have selected a few handy tips to ensure you find the best house share for you!

Get prepared…

The professional lets market moves fast; therefore, you need to be speedy when booking viewings and getting deposits ready. This all sounds stressful, but if you know your budget and already have a deposit to place once you find your dream lettings property then you won’t miss out on your perfect property.

In order to feel prepared there are a few things to consider:

• Know what locations you want to rent a property in. This will narrow down the list of properties when it comes to your property search.
• Talk to neighbours or people from that area and find out their opinions of the local area and also surrounding areas.
• Research! If you can’t speak to anyone in the area you’re looking to rent then research online about the area

Ask around for recommendations

There’s no harm in using social media to announce you are looking for a room to rent – you never know, someone might have a spare one themselves or know someone who does. People can also point you in the right direction of the best professional lets agency.

Always ask questions

You should not be afraid to ask your letting agent questions about the property or the process of letting a room in a shared house. Something that is also incredibly important is to ask your new potential roommates questions.

Questions to ask when viewing a house share:

“Did you all know each other originally?”

Moving into a situation where you’re invading a friendship group can seem intimidating – you may want to know this before committing to this type of situation if you think it is something that may bother you.

“Will I need to bring kitchen stuff?”

It is always handy to ask these types of questions – it doesn’t have to be kitchen stuff it can be any items you’re unsure if you need to bring or not.

“Is that damp issue being fixed?”

If you see an issue in the home you’re viewing don’t be afraid to ask if/ when it is getting fixed.

You don’t need to ask all of those questions but normally they are the ones people forget to ask!

What you may need to consider before renting in a professional house share:

Whether you’re moving to a new city for a career kick-start or simply moving out of home and nearer to your place of work, finding a suitable rental property can often be a daunting prospect. Renting can be expensive wherever you find yourself living, however, considering a professional house share can be highly advantageous in cutting rental costs. Sharing a student flat during your university days is common practice but professional house shares are now becoming the ‘in-thing’ for those looking to save their pennies and get onto the property ladder. 

A professional house share is essentially a multi-occupant property in which tenants share a kitchen, bathroom and living space with people they may not necessarily know. With the rise of the rental sensation Spareroom.co.uk, you can now search and seek out a room in a professional house share in cities across the UK. But what exactly do you need to know about professional flatshares?

Here are our top things to consider when renting in a professional house share…

You don’t need to know your fellow tenants

Do not sweat, you aren’t expected to have a ready-made group of friends to move in with, in a new city. Professional house shares enable you to share your property but with those that you did not previously know. This can be a great way to help you meet people in a new city who are like-minded and have a similar working lifestyle, therefore, helping you settle yourself into an area fast.

Look for a furnished property

Most professional house shares come ready furnished but this is definitely something to look out for! A furnished rental property will have all basic furniture already provided, including all kitchenware, a bed, wardrobe and potentially even a desk. This can be hugely beneficial if you don’t already own your own furniture or if you are only planning to live in the property temporarily if you have to move around regularly for work. You could end up spending a fortune on unnecessary items if you move into an unfurnished property, so looking for a furnished professional house share could save you a great deal of time and money.

What is your budget for sharing a house? 

When selecting the ideal professional house share for you it is good to consider your income and outgoings.

Budgeting things to consider include:

• The deposit payment for the property
• Cost of monthly rent
• Council tax
• Electricity, water, and, gas for the property
• Household insurance – is this included in your rent?
• Telephone and WiFi

The prices of the above can vary extensively depending on the location in which you’re looking to rent and the properties you are viewing. They will also fluctuate depending on how bills are split within your property as you must consider the fact you will be sharing with other tenants. The budget calculator can be incredibly helpful when evaluating your monthly budgets and savings. Apps like Splitwise and Venmo can also help simplify the process of sharing expenses and splitting bills with your fellow house share tenants.

Be considerate of your housemates

Remember that you will be sharing with others – this isn’t university anymore and people are far less tolerant of slobbery habits in their shared spaces so keep in clean. A clean house = happy housemates. It doesn’t take more than 5 minutes to wipe down the kitchen surfaces, put dirty plates in the dishwasher and pick your towel up off the bathroom floor! Basic housemate etiquette will go along way and help you to make better friends with the people you live with at the end of the day! Another good tip is to assign fridge and cupboard space to make sure things don’t get muddled up and you end up eating food that is not yours – avoid confusion and respect your housemate’s things. Compromise is a must with shared housing so try to be considerate of others, embrace your differences and be willing to meet in the middle.

Things to know before moving into a professional house share

You’ve finally done all the hard work about secured your dream house share, but there are a few things you should know before you start moving in and setting up your new rental property. Preparing to move into shared accommodation is very different to moving into a place by yourself or your partner – here at Prem-Lets we are here to help with some tips that may make a big difference in the long run of your professional house share experience…

Plan your moving day properly

Planning your moving day can seem stressful, therefore you may feel like you want to put it off but it is important that you don’t! Make sure you try and finish packaging your belongings the night before you move so that you can have a good night’s sleep and be awake for the day that you move.

Top Tip: Let your new housemates know when you will be moving into the property so they are aware that there will be moving vans arriving at the house.

Keep on top of your dishes and cleaning contributions

Dirty dishes can cause so many problems in any house share. It’s important to stay on top of your own dishes so that you don’t cause any upset in the household. Even if you’re running late one morning and don’t have time to wash up your bowl from breakfast, send them a text to let them know you will clean it up when you get home so they don’t think you’ve just left it there for someone else to do. 

Get on top of shared finance

Nobody likes a housemate who isn’t on top of the bills, it can cause so many problems within the house. There are many different apps or software tools that you could use to stay on top of your finances and help organise your money.

Top Tip: Electing someone in the house to be in charge of paying the bills can work really well for some houses, especially if you have a really organised flatmate.

Make time for your flatmates

It is so important to make time for all your flatmates, to get to know them when you first move in but also to maintain the relationship you will have together as a house. You could organise a house mean night, where maybe one night a week or even a month you can all have a meal together – this is a great way to get to know your new flatmates.

Further reading: House Sharing Etiquette: 6 Unwritten Rules