15 Pros & Cons of House Shares: My Experience After 10 Years

Here are the pros and cons of house sharing you need to know before moving in together. House sharing can be a nightmare if you’re not prepared for it.

I spent over ten years living in house shares in London and South East England. First as a student, then to save money while living in London. I didn’t always enjoy it, but I learned a lot. Below, I’ll share my experiences with you.

8 Pros of Living in a House Share

1. Saving Money on Rent and Bills

For many people, wanting to save money is the key reason for living in a shared house. Saving money was my primary motivation, too. Outside of London, people renting a room can save £108 on rent per month compared to renting a flat. In the UK’s capital, the saving is £450 per month.

As a renter, you also won’t need to worry about mortgages, and other legal arrangements compared to buying.

2. No Need to Pay Bills

If you live in a house share, you might have bills included in your rent. Landlords of house shares often include bills to avoid housemates arguing over them.

I only moved into properties with bills included when I lived in house shares. Because you pay a fixed rent, you don’t have to worry about saving electricity, etc. You also won’t have to argue with energy suppliers about incorrect bills. It is a much more peaceful living experience.

3. Finding Friends Easily

If you move into a house share, you can make new friends. You’ll meet your housemates in shared spaces and talk to them. I met some of my closest friends through house shares.

Of course, you likely won’t like everyone you meet. However, chances are there are a few people you’ll get along with. You may even find a romantic partner.

4. Not Living Alone

In a house share, you are rarely alone. Having company has several advantages:

• If you are scared of being alone, you rarely have to worry.
• There is someone to help you in an emergency.
• When you need to talk to someone, you will likely find a housemate.
• Your housemates can take your deliveries when you are out.

When I worked full time, I enjoyed having someone at home to take my parcels. It saved me so much time because I never had to go to the post office deposit.

5. No Need to Buy Furniture

When you move into your own place, you have to buy furniture. While some flats come partly finished, having everything ready is rare. House shares are always fully furnished. Renters don’t need to bring anything except for their personal belongings.

Whenever I moved, I never had to carry much. All my stuff could fit into two suitcases. This is a major advantage if you move often. It also saves a lot of money.

6. You Do Not Have to Deal with Problems Alone

I once lived in a flat that was rented out illegally. An agency let the flat without the landlord’s knowledge. The flat wasn’t approved as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). It didn’t meet safety standards, and the landlord and the agency ended up in a blame game over this.

Hands down, this was the worst place I ever rented. If I had been by myself, I would have probably cried. Luckily, I had four housemates who were equally affected.

I didn’t know my housemates beforehand, but we found a solution together. We negotiated with the landlord to let us move into the adjacent flat.

7. Easy Borrowing of Stuff

I often need things I use only once, like a kitchen scale. Sometimes, I’m in the middle of cooking and realise I don’t have enough eggs. If you live in a house share, you can easily borrow these things from your housemates. It saved me money and time because I didn’t have to run to the supermarket.

8. Shared or No Cleaning Responsibilities

If you live with responsible flatmates, cleaning in house shares is easier than when you live alone. You can establish a cleaning rota, and you might be able to avoid chores you hate. Many houseshares in the UK also come with a cleaner, meaning you won’t have to clean.

In my house shares, I had mixed experiences. Sometimes, the others were great at cleaning; sometimes, they were not. It helps if you know your housemates beforehand. Ask about their cleaning preferences and decide to move in with them based on their response.

7 Cons of Living in a House Share

1. Lifestyle Differences

The biggest flaw of house sharing is the differences in lifestyles between tenants. I’m a quiet person and like a quiet environment and going to bed early.

Once, I lived in a houseshare with students who liked to party. They’d have flat parties every weekend and randomly throughout the week. If you are a party person, this could be your dream home. However, for me, it was hell. I moved out as soon as I could.

Another example is kitchen hygiene. Knowing there is a cleaner, some housemates don’t clean up after themselves. This is a problem if you need to use the kitchen immediately after them.

I usually deal with these housemates by reminding myself that living with them is temporary. Sooner or later, they or I will move. However, that doesn’t make it less annoying.

2. Safety Issues

Living with strangers can come with potential safety risks. Usually, your bedroom door has a lock, but this may not be enough to protect you. If your housemate wants to assault you or steal from you, they have plenty of opportunities.

Luckily, this never happened to me. Over the years, I lived in more houseshares than I can count, but I was always safe. Thus, in my opinion, the risk of danger is low. However, you should still be aware of it.

Once, I lived with a housemate who didn’t lock the front door. Or worse, they left it open. Nothing bad ever happened, but it is still a risk. I escalated the issue to the landlord to speak with the culprit.

3. Losing Friends More Easily

Living with friends is great. However, not every friend is a good housemate. Differences in attitude towards chores or noise levels can ruin friendships. You may be unable to make up or decide that the friendship is no longer worth pursuing.

Living with someone shows you how they really are. Sometimes, their real self is completely different from what you thought. I learned this the hard way by living with a friend who didn’t pay rent. Because both our names were on the contract, I had to pay for them. Needless to say, we’re no longer friends.

4. Ever-changing Housemates

Typically, living in a house share is a temporary state. Personally, I moved ten times in ten years. Basically, I had a different home every year. My moves were due to work, not liking the place, or finding something better.

You’ll have to get used to meeting new people frequently. Equally, you have to say goodbye often.

5. Reduced Privacy

House shares provide little privacy. Your housemates will get to know your habits, eating preferences, and personality. Most houses don’t have good insulation, so you can hear many of your housemate’s activities, too.

Eavesdropping is easy, and some people respect privacy less than others. I once lived with someone who opened my letters. Luckily, she was evicted quickly due to other problems.

6. Noise

Thin walls also have the disadvantage that you can hear other sounds. This includes:

• Doors opening and closing
• Footsteps
• Someone preparing a meal
• Showering
• And other noises

Noises during the day are normal. However, they can become a problem if you want to sleep. Sleep loss, frustration, and arguments can be the consequences.

7. No Redecorating

It is more difficult to redecorate in a house share than when living alone. Most rooms are furnished when you move in. Landlords do not want the risk and hassle of allowing a tenant to redecorate. They know the tenant turnover is higher in shared houses, and you won’t stay long.

What Is a House Share?

House shares refer to people who live together in the same house or flat. Generally, people in a house share are unrelated and often strangers or friends. Most commonly, each occupant has their own bedroom. Other spaces are shared, including the kitchen, bathroom, and living room.

If the house share includes three or more unrelated people, it is a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). An HMO must fulfil higher standards than other house shares. This includes adequate safety features, sanitation, and maintenance of communal areas.

Is House Sharing a Good Idea?

House sharing has many pros and cons. I don’t regret spending much of my life in house shares. For me, the financial savings outweigh the disadvantages.

However, whether you’ll enjoy living with housemates is a different story. If you’re not adaptable and ready to accept some discomfort, you might prefer living alone.

How Can You Move Into a House Share?

You can find house-share adverts online. I found all my house shares on SpareRoom. SpareRoom is free, and you can find many rooms. Another place would be Facebook. However, I have never used it due to the risk of scams.

Most rooms are let quickly, so if you like a room, let the landlord know immediately. When I go for a viewing, I’m always prepared to say ‘yes’ on the spot. On the day of the move, remember to tip the removal men.

Pros and Cons of House Sharing Summary

House sharing saves money and can be a great experience. However, it can also be a nightmare. There are many pros and cons of house sharing, including:

Pros

• Saving money on rent and bills
• Having bills included in the rent
• Finding friends easily
• Not living alone
• No need to buy furniture
• Not having to deal with problems alone
• Easy borrowing of stuff
• Shared or no cleaning responsibilities

Cons

• Lifestyle differences
• Safety issues
• Losing friends
• Ever-changing housemates
• Reduced privacy
• Noisiness
• No decorating

Read next about legit ways to live rent free.

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