Moving Out to a Share House

anastasiastarz on 23/07/2017 - 03:32
Last edited 23/07/2017 - 09:41 by 1 other user

Hi Guys,

Looking at moving into a share house, do you have any tips? Potentially renting a place with friends/past housemates, though I'm iffy about it all as it's something completely new. One of them wants me to be on the lease and him not to (in case anything goes wrong), trying to passively manipulate me, not a great start. That one is a bit iffy, we might need an agent, and get his mother to back him as he might have some money issues.

I've lived with others/random strangers before in boarding houses, though we always had a house mother and adults to enforce rules. Alternatively I might just ditch them and get a room, though that seems to be a struggle too, and not just because there are a lot of creeps out there.

Do you have any tips? If you do/have lived in a share house without adults, how did you enforce the rules?

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Wystri Warrick on 23/07/2017 - 06:24
    +4

    Make Room mate agreement.

    • xoom on 23/07/2017 - 07:05
      +9

      Sheldon. That you? 😆

    • anastasiastarz on 24/07/2017 - 08:55

      That's a great idea! I'm wondering if we make it a merger of that great relationship one? To stipulate rules on cleanliness too, not just the space but people too? One of the boys appears to be afraid of water… the other one sheds all over the couch.

  • barbarella on 23/07/2017 - 07:45

    It depends on what kind of a living environment you want…hanging out with friends? or just somewhere decent to come home to?
    Have you checked out flatmates.com.au?

    • anastasiastarz on 24/07/2017 - 09:00

      The later. I have looked at flatmates, the area we're after I can't seem to afford a room in. Also I have a couple bad experiences (creeps). It's a bit more challenging to find an all girl house than I thought.

      • bobbified on 24/07/2017 - 09:26
        +1

        Also I have a couple bad experiences (creeps).

        Those bloody creeps!

        I have a big bed to share! But only if you promise not to hit on me! haha

  • dasher86 on 23/07/2017 - 09:03
    +4

    Run. Money issues, and manipulation.
    You're friends now…

    • anastasiastarz on 24/07/2017 - 09:01

      I plan on getting his mother to back him if he fails in regards to rent. That one was evicted (by the house mother), he was an ex-housemate for being generally annoying. We're hoping he has learnt the error of his ways.

      • dasher86 on 24/07/2017 - 09:20

        hmmm… i still wouldn't rely on his mother.
        what happens if she decides to cut him off?

  • rambutann on 23/07/2017 - 09:06
    +3

    I would never live with someone who may potentially have money issues who doesn't want to be on the least..

    You're better off living with randoms if this is the case. I've only ever lived in share houses where everyone is on the lease, sometimes people stayed who weren't on the lease but their rent went towards household bills, beer and other random stuff.

    You cannot enforce anything if you decide to move in with this guy if he decides that he doesn't want to pay.

  • gaz3342 on 23/07/2017 - 10:09
    +1

    Sounds like he has no intention of paying and if he isn't on the lease you won't have a leg to stand on. He either goes on the lease or you don't move in. Even then I'd be careful.

  • bobbified on 23/07/2017 - 10:19
    +5

    One of them wants me to be on the lease and him not to (in case anything goes wrong),

    So this guy already forsees himself having money issues and not being able to pay the rent so he's trying to take steps minimise the damage to this name if when this happens and then perhaps even running away scot-free.

    For that reason alone, I would insist that his name be on the lease so that he has an interest in covering his own costs. (yes, I'm an arsehole like that! haha)

    If you insist on moving in with this guy, you must have a very specific and detailed agreement on what's going to happen when the situation occurs. The agreements may or may not involve his parents.

    Realistically, you and your housemates should also be mentally and financially prepared to chip in to cover for his rent.

    Otherwise, I would reconsider.

    In a month or so, we'd prefer not to see a new thread called: ADVICE NEEDED: HOUSEMATE CANNOT PAY RENT. NAME NOT ON LEASE

    • anastasiastarz on 24/07/2017 - 09:04

      "For that reason alone, I would insist that his name be on the lease so that he has an interest in covering his own costs." - I'm exactly like that too, I believe for shared responsibility all three names need to be on the lease. Interestingly I do specialize in contract law so I'm excited about creating this contract!

      • bobbified on 24/07/2017 - 09:29

        I do specialize in contract law

        and this guy still wants to mess with ya!

        • anastasiastarz on 24/07/2017 - 10:40

          Oh no, he doesn't know :P Much like my purple belt.

  • [Deactivated] on 23/07/2017 - 11:26

    what's wrong with the usual bond u give the lease holder if anything goes wrong, what that's not enough for them. hmmm

  • DemocracyManifest on 23/07/2017 - 13:42

    I moved in with 4 people originally in my first sharehouse, a couple and two other guys. Couple split up, next minute we have 6 dudes and the place is a mess. Make sure you have a decent vacuum cleaner and a dishwasher, and if people don't clean regularly ensure you pay for a cleaner every now and then. Also probably have a microwave and a bar fridge in your room, especially if you drink. I kept most of my beer under my bed.

  • DemocracyManifest on 23/07/2017 - 13:45

    Also if you are the responsible one make everyone pay into a new bank account for rent and bills early and then pay after that, you then will have bank statements outlining what everyone has payed and who's being slack. Work it to your advantage to get american express rewards points or something haha

  • DemocracyManifest on 23/07/2017 - 13:47
    +1

    One of my housemates was a 7ft hungarian who banged on doors for people to pay their rent so that helped.

    • AdosHouse on 23/07/2017 - 13:55
      +1

      There's some incentive to pay the rent, right there.

      • Kangal on 23/07/2017 - 16:25
        +3

        He was just hungry….

        To OP, if possible, try to NOT put your name on the lease.
        But if you must, then make it public that you want everyone's name on the lease.
        The more public and upfront and early you are about conditions the better.
        DO NOT LEAVE IT UP TO COMMON SENSE AS IT WILL LEAVE YOU HUNG DRY

        Make sure EVERYTHING is discussed early on.
        Like when rent will be collected, who will pay the rent, how bills would be shared, cleaning roster, inviting girls/friends, getting pets, etc etc
        Share houses are a great place for lazy, cheap, and dishonest people… but could be a horrible place for clean, thoughtful, and trustworthy individuals. It doesn't matter if they're your mates… if they're your housemates make sure they don't take you for a ride.

  • jerjergege on 24/07/2017 - 09:31

    I've been living in a shared home for 2 years now, own rooms are private unless invited to. Wasn't good at first.

    Lounge, kitchen, dining, study are open.

    Everyone helps with the chores on a cycle for taking out the bins.

    Kitchen MUST be kept clean.

    Vacuuming is a cycle as well. Before these rules, i was the one left to clean the house every weekend, no time for myself, i got fed up and wrote a note and stuck it on the fridge, i worked 2 jobs Sunday to Friday and i get home i have to do all the (profanity) chores?
    I told them to grow up and i don't want to live in a pigsty and for the first couple of months it was spotless i didn't need to do anything, but now we are on a schedule.

    If it was friends it would probably have been more chill, but i have heard stories on friendships ending on bad habits and living lifestyles.

    EDIT: So basically make an agreement what is ok, what is not okay, when your usual laundry dates are so you can use washing machine and hang clothes out, and people won't clash and be left without clothes.
    And share chores to keep the house as clean as you guys want it.

    • anastasiastarz on 24/07/2017 - 10:43
      +1

      We had a weekly roster at my last place, enforced by the housemother which went quite well, except some people were exempted from the rules… best story we have is that time a girl made pasta and refused to wash it for three weeks. It stunk and we had to move all the dirty dishes (all hers) outside.
      .
      She never washed them in the end.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join