While the majority of young people and students are concerned with colocation, this alternative to housing also attracts other age groups. Young couples, single mothers or retired people looking for companionship, we are increasingly opting for colocation.

Attention, if it is rather attractive at first, the colocation can quickly turn into a nightmare. 4 tips for a successful roommate.

1 - We choose the location of the roommate

We do not choose the flat according to the roommates, but the roommates according to the location of the apartment! Shared housing must be the best compromise between our needs, our means and our desires. It is therefore important to choose a neighborhood well served by public transport if you do not have a car. Conversely, if you are transported, you will be sure that there are parking spaces nearby in the neighborhood.

Practical also, we make sure that the district where we want to settle, lacks nothing: bakery, supermarket, laundromat ...

2 - We check the compatibility of the lives of roommates

For a serene and perennial roommate, it is preferable that the roommates share the same way of life. Smoker, party animal, loner, talker ... during the visits, we do not hesitate to exchange with the future roommates on our main traits of character. The watchword: gauge other habits to see if they are compatible with ours.

3 - Beware of scams

Yeah, the roommate scams also exist. Before signing anything or depositing a surety check, we check that the contract is indeed a colocation contract and not a sublease contract. The latter, which is generally done without the consent of the owner, has no value. No lease or receipt of rent for a subtenant, which means no possibility of housing assistance.

One tip: one rather trusts the sites of colocation specialized like Household or Colocation.fr rather than general sites of classifieds.

4 - Learn how to manage a budget

Household tax, household waste tax, TV license, water, gas and electricity bills: these inevitable expenses are listed. And we ensure that they are equitably distributed among roommates.

It is also thought to inquire about other expenses that come into the common pot of colocation: food shopping, maintenance products, internet access ... To avoid conflicts, one defines who pays what from the beginning.