Share-house rules

At some time in our lives, most of us end up sharing living space with other people, and as “responsible” adults – and desirable housemates – we all have to shoulder the burden of cooking and cleaning equally. We all know what happens to those who don’t: they become the subject of share-house horror stories, the kind everyone has at least one of. (Note: if you don’t have a story, you may well be the subject of one.)

The hungry housemate who always arrived home just on dinner time but had to leave urgently just on dishes time. The housemate whose hair loss and its impact on bathroom drains meant showering ankle-deep in stagnant water or a gag-inducing dive to the bottom of the tub to wrench out a hairball the size of a large rodent. And finally, the housemate who faked his own death and left town rather than pay rent (true story!). You don’t want to be that person, nor do you want to live with them.

So what can you do?

Talk

Before even looking at a lease, let alone signing on that dotted line, talk to your (potential) housemates about their habits, hopes and expectations regarding housework and bills. Getting everything out on the table early can help you avoid awkward situations down the track.

Schedules

Good old-fashioned pen and paper (or whiteboard) are all you need for this one. Sit down with your housemates; talk about the essential, non-negotiable chores that need doing weekly (bearing in mind that one person’s essential may be another’s negotiable) and bills that need paying; and then divide and rotate to work out a fair and equitable schedule. Finally, stick to it!

Apps

If that sounds too complex, or you need a system with proper reminders (not just passive-aggressive sticky notes left around the house), numerous apps are available that will help you divvy up your chores – and politely remind you to do them, as well. Home Routines is just one such app – you can even earn gold stars when you complete a task! There are options out there to suit every household.

Money

You would think it was a dirty word, given our inherent reluctance to talk finances. However, when it comes to shared living, shared spending is a non-negotiable. Depending on what you agree upon when moving in, you might be lucky enough to live in a place in which utilities (electricity, gas) and possibly even internet and pay TV are included in your rent. If this is not the case, you need to split bills. Apps, with their simple reminders, can take the personal element out of having to ask for money. HomeBudget, although designed for families, works equally well for share houses; its Family Sync option allows a group of devices to exchange expense and income information, and provides reminders for when bills are due. Other apps, such as Splitwise, can help you split bills with contacts on your phone (and pay directly via PayPal).

Sharing a house with others can be challenging, but if you want to walk away from your share-house experience with nothing but happy memories, you’ll need to know how to share the load.