Introduction
Flat and house sharing is an accommodation model where a group of people, sometimes unrelated, rent out a property together. People who use the form of flat share house share accommodation model are usually referred to as house mates, flat mates or roommates. Generally, the tenants share certain communal amenities like a lavatory or kitchen. It is quickly becoming a preferred model and the U.K. government, for instance, has increased the incentives offered- the U.K. government introduced the “Rent a Room Scheme” where property owners that rent out part of their properties earn £ 4, 250 tax-free every year. Flat sharing is different from cohabitation where an intimately or emotionally involved couple lives together. There are different types of flat sharing. A student shared house is, as the name suggests, for students only and is very close to university campuses. There is also a flat/house share where tenants sign up for joint tenancy. Rooms for rent could be with a live-in landlord- here, the owner rents out one or more rooms in the property that he lives in and the flat-mates in this situation is often known as a lodger. Sub lets are where a tenant rents out part of a property and collects the rent him/herself. Monday-to-Friday lets are popular with professionals who commute long distances to work- the lodger usually picks a location close to his/her workplace.
The stereotype has been that shared houses are for students only, but with home prices out of reach for many, shared accommodation presents a model that could save you money while giving you proper accommodation, on the part of the tenant, and giving the owner a welcome source extra income. People share accommodations for various reasons. These include a need to save on huge commuter fees, or to save up for a mortgage, desire to live in a better area despite a budget constraint or a simple desire not to live alone. Whatever the case, the trend is picking.
Step 1
Issues that can affect where exactly you would like to live include proximity to your work place or school, availability of transport such a rail network or a metro, if you have friends nearby or the amenities around the location like night spots or a hospital. Making a decision on the location helps you focus your search.
Step 2
You can usually begin this by asking people you know and trust if they could let you share a room with you, say for example, a family friend, or a close friend or a work mate you get along with. If you do not have this luxury, you could make use of websites dedicated to flat share house share like www.roombuddies.com or the reputable www.tepilo.com and other reputable flat share sites like spareroom.co.uk. These sites also have great bargains and will guarantee your privacy. You can place an ad on these sites.
Step 3
There are instances where the owner of the property specifically looks for the flat mates all by him/herself. As a result, compatibility is thrown out the window. Needless to say, since you will be sharing the room (s) with someone else, there is need to ensure that you are compatible and you can trust your mate. Most flatmates are, therefore, related in a sort of way, maybe they are age mates, or study at the same university or are just friends or even work mates. You can start here. Find out if any of your friends would like to share a room with you. Sometimes, you may have to travel to a place where you have no socialcontacts. As such, advertise on targeted media like www.thestudentroom.co.uk or related flat share house share sites.
Step 4
Just like speed dating, this involves you meeting a number of potential flat mates in a relaxed setting. It helps in that you get to know the people prior to actual flat sharing - it can be quite the eye opener when you realize that you are incompatible, it will save you nights of agony.
Step 5
When you are sharing accommodation, make sure your papers are in order and you are aware of your legal responsibilities such as joint liability in the case of a joint flat sharing agreement. Also, seek clarification if you are sub letting or are acquiring accommodation through sub letting - very often than not, of the landlord has not consented to this; you may lose out on a lot of money.
Step 6
Do not simply jump in on a flat share house share deal because it will save you a lot of money. Remember you are staying with strangers and run the risk of suffering loss or being scammed. Beware of deals too good to be true. In addition, vet your flat mates, maybe by asking them a number of questions and acquiring identification and contact details. Your safety is far much more important that the money.
Some More Tips
- Choose a suitable location.
- Ask around and place a “house wanted” ad.
- Don’t overlook the need to find a suitable flat mate for the flat share house share mode to work.
- Go over the legal agreements carefully.
- Stay safe - safety over everything.
Sources and Citations
- Find the perfect flatshare(2012). Retrieved from http://www.tepilo.com/get_advice/flatsharing_tips/219/find_the_perfect_flatshare/
- Types of shared accommodation(2012). Retrieved from http://www.spareroom.co.uk/content/info-flatsharing/shared-accommodation-types/
- Top tips for finding a flat share(2012). Retrieved from http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Top_tips_for_finding_a_flat_share
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