Colocation: what are the advantages and disadvantages?

Cheaper rent, sharing… the advantages of shared accommodation

Is it interesting to put yourself in a roommate? There are many advantages to colocation. Here are some of the best examples.

    • Cheaper rent, sharing… the advantages of shared accommodation
    • Advantages of colocation: much lower costs to pay
    • roommate benefits friendship
    • Friendships to create, experiences to share
    • friends roommate benefits
    • Ending word

Advantages of colocation: much lower costs to pay

A roommate means that you rent accommodation with other people. Everyone pays their own rent and, generally, everyone pays for their own room and for common areas (living room, bathroom, kitchen, etc.). In this context, be aware that one of the main advantages of shared accommodation is precisely to pay less for miscellaneous costs and rent.

On average, a roommate saves a good hundred euros per month with a roommate. For what ? Well because most of the fees due are shared. For two roommates, the rent for the overall accommodation is halved, the home insurance too, the costs of electricity, water, gas or even the internet box… All the common costs are generally divided between the roommates, equivalently.

roommate benefits friendship

Except for the rent (the payment depends on the lease contract signed with the lessor), all costs are to be divided between the roommates, amicably. There is therefore always a way to arrange with the other tenants to pay certain costs.

For food and other common costs, it also depends on how you want to organize yourself. Do you want to set up a common wallet to do common shopping? Perhaps, do you rather want everyone to do their own shopping on their own? In any case, know that living with a roommate means paying less, including food if you decide to do the shopping together. Indeed, if you shop only for yourself, you are more tempted to spend!

Friendships to create, experiences to share

Other advantages of colocation: creating friendships and sharing with other people. In addition to the fact that a roommate is cheaper than a classic rental, you will live with other people during this experience. Maybe you’ll live with people you already know, but it’s also possible that you’ll go roommates with people you’ve never met. It’s a great way to meet people.

But also, if you are a student, it may seem appropriate to share accommodation with people from your class, from your faculty. The story of sharing your lessons, experiences, revising together, etc.

Co-living is therefore a very good alternative to renting alone, precisely for its practicality and for its conviviality. There are, for example, many furnished flatshares, already ready to live in, where all you have to do is put down your suitcases and make friends with nice people!

friends roommate benefits

Solidarity clause, disagreement… the disadvantages of shared accommodation
There are not only advantages to colocation. There are a few notable downsides. Here are those examples, the only real ones that we have found.

The roommate, are there only advantages? You might not like your roommates!
Yes, it is possible to get along well with roommates. But, it is also possible to not like the people you are going to live with at all. Indeed, roommates have advantages such as the creation of friendships, inexpensive rent… But, whether you are roommates with your friends or with strangers, you are not immune to discord.

Your roommates might not do their chores, maybe they won’t pay their rent, or maybe they just won’t come back to you. In any case, choosing the right roommates is essential for this experience to go like clockwork.

Ending word

We also advise you to do a test phase before you put yourself in a roommate. If possible, ask the lessor not to sign the contract (but to pay it anyway) in order to test the cohabitation for a week. You can also test live with your friends before going for it.

If you don’t know the other housemates, you can also meet them several times before moving in with them. A formality that will make it possible to know them, but also to put rules upstream (who does what in the accommodation, etc.).


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