Living with housemates: how to make a shared house work
Shared houses run well when people agree a few simple things early and deal with small irritations before they grow. This guide is about the practical side; for legal points it links to our England guides.
Agree the basics in week one
- Cleaning: a simple rota for the kitchen, bathroom and hall, or who does what and when.
- Kitchen and fridge: shelf space, washing up the same day, and whether anything is shared.
- Noise and shifts: many people work early starts, nights or rotations. Agree quiet hours that suit everyone, and tell people when you are on nights.
- Guests: how often, how long, and whether to warn the house first. Check your agreement as well. See tenancy agreements.
- Bins, post and deliveries: who takes them out and where parcels go.
Shared costs
If bills are included in your rent there is nothing to split; see what bills included means. For anything else shared, such as cleaning products or toilet roll, a small tracked kitty or an app avoids awkward arguments. Keep your own food and personal items separate unless you agree otherwise.
When something goes wrong
- Raise it early, face to face or in a calm message, and be specific about what would help.
- Focus on the behaviour and one small change you would like, not the person.
- Safety, damage and repair problems go to the landlord straight away. See repairs in a rented room.
- Keep a record if the problem keeps happening.
Respect each other's space
Your room is your private space and the landlord needs notice before visiting; see landlord entry. Lock your room, and respect your housemates' rooms in the same way.
This is general information, not legal advice. Keys and locks? See keys and security. Having guests? See guests and visitors. Sharing the kitchen? See sharing a kitchen. Working shifts? See shift work in a shared house. Starting out? Use the first-week checklist, or see how renting with us works.