Living with housemates is a fantastic way to save money, share responsibilities and build friendships, and the trend is reportedly at record levels in Australia.
While it can be a positive experience for many people, sharing a house also comes with challenges, from managing bills to keeping spaces clean.
A little effort in communication and organisation can go a long way to create a harmonious household, but you also need to take specific steps to protect yourself from a situation where you end up with bills that aren’t your own or you feel badly let down by the people you share a home with.
Here’s how to have a happier and less risky share-house experience in Australia:
Set expectations early
The best way to maintain a positive living environment with your housemates is to set expectations from the start. Have a house meeting when you first move in together to discuss:
• Cleaning schedules – Decide how chores will be shared and who is responsible for what.
• Quiet hours – Be mindful of different schedules, especially for work and study.
• Shared expenses – Agree on how to split the cost of groceries, utilities, household essentials like cleaning products and other bills.
• Washer & dryer times – Have a roster for the laundry and agree not to leave wet washing in the machine for more than 24 hours
• Guests and partners – Discuss expectations around visitors, parties and overnight stays.
Keep things in writing and schedule a regular catch-up to update your agreements or figure out why things aren’t working.
Handling shared expenses fairly
Money issues are a common cause of housemate tension. Avoid conflict by:
• Clarifying who will pay for what.
• Using apps like Splitwise or Beem to track shared expenses and easily transfer money to each other.
• Setting up a joint account for household bills and contributions, and all paying into it regularly.
• Holding people accountable when they are one or two days late rather than one or two weeks or months
• Lodging formal bond payments rather than having one of the other housemates hold onto cash on someone else’s behalf.
If a housemate is failing to pay their bills and doesn’t have a clear plan to catch up on their payments, you need to act quickly so you don’t all fall behind on utility bills and rent, which can make life difficult. Don’t accept excuses and promises… they need to pay or move out.
Protect yourself from unpaid bills
The risk with sharing a home is that a housemate suddenly moves out and the remaining tenants are left covering their share of rent or bills. To protect yourself:
• Have all housemates listed on the lease – This makes it clear who is legally responsible for payments.
• Agree on a notice period – Ask for at least four weeks’ notice before anyone moves out and be clear that this includes paying for utilities and rent during that time.
• Have a utility ‘bond’ – Each put a month’s worth of utility money into a nominated location so that a bill can still be paid if someone moves out without giving notice
• Keep utilities in multiple names – This avoids one person being solely liable for an account.
Work with a good property manager
Having a reliable property manager will make renting and sharing a house much easier. Your property manager should:
• Share the right contracts and paperwork – So everyone who lives in the house is covered by the rental agreement
• Provide clear communication – Detailing lease terms and rent payments.
• Keep all housemates who are on the lease informed – So everyone is aware of property-related matters.
A good property manager will be approachable, communicative and ready to help you when a housemate moves on.
Rent from a Professional
Living with housemates requires compromise, communication and a bit of planning. By setting clear expectations, managing expenses properly and maintaining good relationships with your property manager, you can create a stress-free and enjoyable home environment.
It is also important to lease a home that is professionally managed. This way, everyone will have a more positive experience, all housemates will be more accountable for their actions and financial obligations can be tracked more easily.
Looking for a place to rent? Reach out to your local Professionals office today.
