Sharing your living space with others can be both a stressful experience and an excellent way to make new friends and share the rising costs of living in today's housing market. Here is our guide to choosing not only the right flat or house, but also the right people to share it with and how to survive the experience.

The Interview

This has become a popular way for those looking for potential flatmates/ housemates to screen applicants and decide on the best candidate. Here are some things you should bear in mind for those on both sides of the interview process.

Interviewer:

This is potentially the person you are going to share your living space with, so try to find out as much as possible about them and their lifestyle to establish whether or not you are compatible. For example, if they like to go to bed early and you like to party into the night, you may wish to ask yourself if this will cause problems in the future.

Think about your own habits. If they strike you as very neat or very messy, ask yourself how this will fit in with you.

Try to get a feel for the person. Personality is very important. If you get a good/bad feeling from them in the interview this will be a good indication of how things may turn out in the future.

Make any ground rules clear. If you have any (reasonable) expectations from a housemate, you should make this clear from the outset.

Have somebody else present at the interview. This is a good idea for both personal safety reasons and also to get a second opinion.

Be prepared. Have a series of questions planned and allow enough time for each of the applicants. Leaving a small gap between interviews will allow you to regroup and prepare for the next interview and will also avoid applicants overlapping.

Be considerate but be aware. Try to put your interviewee at their ease. This can be a nerve wracking process for both sides. If your applicant is relaxed, you may be able to get a better idea of what they are really like.

Get some references. These are your only other indications of reliability and personality. Try to find out if there have been any previous problems with other house sharing situations or payment of rent.

Interviewee:

Don't try too hard. Don't try to be something you're not as this could lead to problems keeping up the pretence if you are successful.

Try to get a feel for the person/people who live there already. Do you think that you would be happy living with them?

Don't be afraid to ask questions of your own. Try to find out as much as possible about the house/flat and the people who live there.

Have a good look around. How much space do you think you need? Can you visualise yourself in this place?

Etiquette

Sharing a house can be trying at times. Try to remember that communal areas such as the kitchen, bathroom and living rooms have to be used by everybody and they may not share the same relaxed attitude to mess as you. If you clean your own mess up you can reasonably expect everybody else to do the same.

The question of bills and money is always a contentious issue. It is a good idea to come to some kind of agreement about the division of bills in advance. Utilities (gas, water, electricity) are usually shared.

Do not assume that all the members of the household will contribute to non essentials such as satalite TV without asking first (unless they are already in place).

Food shopping and storage is also a big issue in shared households. Respect others' dietary needs and food stores and if you do take some of someone else's food, make sure you replace it.