Living with someone can test the strongest of friendships, so what chance do you have of finding a stranger that you will get on with to live with you?  Well it can be tricky and dependant on whether you are looking for someone to just rent a room and contribute towards the rent or someone that you can get on with and socialise with too.

Many of us feel awkward about seeking for a specific type of person in fear of not being politically correct or offending someone, but by human nature there are people that we know we will get on with and others that you won’t, so just think of it as setting the rules from the outset and if you are not offensive in your advert, no one will take offence.

Finding a new housemate is a little similar to an interview, in that you want to find out about them so that you can make the decision to see if they will blend in, so when a possible housemate contacts you (or you contact them) invite them to come view the property, this will also give you the opportunity to sit down, have a drink and try to suss them out and find out what their interests are to see whether you will get on with them.

Some may not have a clue what to ask when “Interviewing” someone to see if they will fit in a household, but some good starters, just to get a conversation going could include finding out:

• Are they a clean and tidy person or a bit scatty and untidy?
• Do they have any hobbies or interests?
• Do they have any strange or annoying habits?
• Do they like to go out on mad weekend benders?
• Do they plan to throw nay wild parties?
• Do they use drugs?
• What are their expectations of cleanliness in a home?
• What music do they like?
• Where do they work and what hours do they do?
• Will they be brining their partner over to say and if so, how often?
• Will they be willing to join in the cleaning?

This is by no means a definitive list, just some starters for ten!