Flatshare
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A flatshare is the name given to a flat or house that is shared. A flatmate is an unrelated person with whom one shares a flat. This practice is common in cities where rents are high. In American English, a flatmate is referred to as a housemate or roommate (no concise term equivalent to flatshare is in common use). Flatsharing, typically practised by unmarried people to reduce the cost of housing, is common in North America and Europe. Unmarried couples and relatives living together are not normally considered flatmates.
Sharing housing may or may not involve sharing a bedroom. University students living in dormitories often share a bedroom. This is less common for non-students, who typically share only the common areas and have private bedrooms.
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[edit] Motivations for flatsharing
The most common reason for sharing housing is to reduce the cost of housing. In many rental markets, the monthly rent for a two- or three-bedroom apartment is proportionately less per bedroom than the rent for a one-bedroom apartment (in other words, a three-bedroom flat costs somewhat more than a one-bedroom, but not three times as much). By pooling their monthly housing money, a group of people can achieve a lower housing expense at the cost of less privacy. Other motivations are to gain better amenities than those available in single-person housing, to share the work of maintaining a household, and to have the companionship of other people.
[edit] People who flatshare
Typically persons living in flatshares are unmarried young adults, including both workers and students. In many countries, such as the United States, most young adults spend at least a short part of their lives living in a flatshare after they leave their family's home. Married couples, especially when they have children, typically discontinue living with flatmates.
[edit] Finding suitable flatmates
One difficulty is finding suitable flatmates. A survey conducted by FlatShare.com shows that flatsharers consider personal security and financial savings as most important in determining their flatsharing needs. Cleanliness and honesty were also considered crucial to a successful flatshare. Agencies exist for matching up suitable flatmates. Some universities organise matching up events.
Living with a flatmate can mean much less privacy than having a flat on your own, and for some people this can cause a lot of stress. Advice on the ideal size for a flatshare varies widely; some advice a size of 3–4 flatmates. Larger flatshares often suffer from disputes of a partisan nature, especially when no flatmate has the time or will to come forward as a "flat leader" to administrate bill payments, cleaning, etc. Double flatshares are susceptible to animosity too, as there flatmates can get annoyed with each other very easily.
[edit] Online Flatshare Service
Several online roommate services are now available online to help its users find a place to live. These services are generally asking fees after user registration to get access to more information. These fees are usually hidden as the user thinks it is free. Other few flatshare services offer now 100% free services on the internet and are based on advertisement marketing.
