Picking a flat to live in is hard.
Picking flatmates can be even harder.
Some people chose to share a house with absolute stranger and others prefer to live with friends. But even experts warn not to share a house with your best mate because it may break the friendship.
Nidd Property Management business manager Rachael Courtney says renting a property with someone –anyone - is first of all a liability.
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As soon as you sign the tenancy agreement with people you share the property with, you are all responsible for it, she says.
"Pick people that you know because if something goes wrong, you are also liable for their actions,”
“I personally agree with a saying ‘don’t flat with your best friends’ but I think that you should at least be familiar with people you live with,” Courtney says.
If tenants have a big fight, it’s not common to terminate the contracts but probably just to replace the tenant. On the other hand, taking on a legal contract, which is what a tenancy agreement is, with total strangers is a risk.
“It’s a bit too risky flatting with strangers as you can get a completely different personality that will clash with yours,” Courtney says.
Aucklander Yash Patel says he’s never flatted with someone who was not his friend.
“It’s easy for us as friends because we balance off with each other. If I'm not doing the dishes one day, then I’m cooking the next day. That’s why I chose not to flat with someone I don’t know.”
It’s all about balancing out the work and communicating with each other to make it work, he adds.
Young professional Isaac Chen says sharing a house with friends can end badly to the point that you’re not friends anymore.
“Going with strangers is less drama. But also, what if you don’t like the people you’re flatting with?’” Chen says.
Another experienced flatter also shared their thoughts with OneRoof on pros and cons of renting with strangers.
“Flatting with strangers is great if you like a lot of time alone to switch off. Flatting with friends can mean easier cooperation, and in my experience, you are more likely to do things like cook and shop together.”
Other flatters agreed with Chen that opting for strangers rather than friends when sharing a house is better.
“If it goes wrong you haven’t lost a friend, if it goes right you’ve made some.”
“Strangers have always been way better to live with in my experience - not having to deal with any of their drama.
“Flatting with friends, you often come face to face with their hidden, darker sides. I would agree with flatting with only the best of friends, or the strangest of strangers.”
