Welcome to the world of shared apartments, where convenience meets affordability and community. In an era where housing costs are on the rise, shared apartments have emerged as a popular solution for individuals seeking a comfortable and cost-effective living arrangement.
Shared apartments, also known as flat-sharing or co-living spaces, bring together individuals who share a common living area while enjoying the benefits of shared expenses, social interaction, and a supportive environment.
This arrangement appeals to a diverse range of people, including young professionals, students, and even seniors, who are looking to maximize their budget without compromising on quality.
In this article, we’re going to look at the cost-effective nature, emphasis on social connection, and convenience of shared apartment living.
So, whether you’re a prospective tenant or a business catering to the shared apartment market, this topic holds great potential for individuals seeking the perfect balance of comfort, affordability, and community. I guess you’re one of them, right?
What Is A Shared Apartment?
A shared apartment is where two or more people live in share the same apartment, with each person having their bedrooms but sharing common areas such as the living room, kitchen, and bathroom.
Shared apartments are usually common among university students who live off-campus. This is because shared apartments help in reducing the cost of renting a house.
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Advantages Of Shared Apartments
Some of the advantages of shared apartments include:
1. Cost sharing:
One of the primary advantages of shared apartments is the ability to split the rent and utilities with other occupants.
This significantly reduces the financial burden on each individual, making it more affordable compared to renting an entire apartment or house by yourself.
2. Affordability:
Shared apartments are generally more cost-effective than living alone since you only pay for your portion of the rent and expenses.
This makes it a viable option for students, young professionals, or individuals on a tight budget.
3. Enhanced social life:
Living in a shared apartment allows you to interact and live with other people, fostering a sense of community and companionship. It provides opportunities to build friendships, share experiences, and engage in social activities together. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals new to a city or those who enjoy a more social lifestyle.
4. Shared responsibilities:
In a shared apartment, household chores and responsibilities are typically divided among the occupants. This reduces the workload for each individual and creates a more balanced living environment. Shared responsibilities can include cleaning, grocery shopping, maintenance tasks, and other household duties.
5. Shared resources:
Sharing an apartment means sharing resources such as kitchen appliances, furniture, and entertainment. Like in Nigerian neighborhoods where you can borrow anything like salt and pepper, onions, and iron sometimes they can even borrow your kids to run errands. This can lead to cost savings as you don’t have to purchase all these items individually.
Additionally, you may have access to amenities such as a shared gym, laundry facilities, or a communal living area that you might not be able to afford on your own.
6. Flexibility:
Shared apartments often offer more flexibility in terms of lease agreements. It is generally easier to find short-term or month-to-month rental options, which can be beneficial for those who prefer a more transient lifestyle or have uncertain plans.
7. Increased security:
Living with others can provide an increased sense of security. With multiple individuals residing in the same space, there is a reduced risk of burglary or break-ins.
Additionally, you have other people to rely on in case of emergencies or unexpected situations. In this case of security, it is good to have good roommates because sometimes they can be the ones stealing your stuff and still be helping you to find the thieves.
8. Diverse perspectives:
Sharing an apartment with individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, or professions exposes you to diverse perspectives and ideas.
This can broaden your horizons, enhance your understanding of various cultures, and provide valuable learning experiences.
Disadvantages Of A Shared Apartment
We all know that whatever has an advantage has a disadvantage. Having read about the advantages of shared apartments When you hear the disadvantage, I know what you’re thinking right now. is it privacy? For those of you who like keeping secrets or is it sharing of clothes? Well, we’re going to look into that. Below are some of the disadvantages of a shared apartment.
1. Lack of privacy:
Sharing living spaces with roommates means sacrificing some privacy. You may have limited personal space and have to compromise on your preferred living arrangements, such as bathroom schedules, noise levels, or decorating choices.
Sometimes as a guy, you’d want to bring your girl over so that you guys can spend time but if your roommates are around, you’ll have to reason with them to give you the room. Sometimes this works out and sometimes it doesn’t.
2. Conflicting lifestyles:
Everyone has their habits, routines, and preferences. Living with roommates increases the chances of having conflicting lifestyles, such as different sleep schedules, cleanliness standards, or noise tolerance, disagreements over household chores like washing plates, shared expenses, guests, or personal boundaries may occur.
Resolving conflicts can be time-consuming and require compromise and effective communication.
4. Unequal responsibility sharing:
Not all roommates may contribute equally to household chores, bills, or maintenance tasks. This imbalance can lead to resentment and frustration among roommates, particularly if some individuals feel they are shouldering a disproportionate burden.
5. Limited control over living environment:
Shared apartments often require compromises on the choice of furnishings, decor, or household rules. If you have specific preferences or requirements for your living space, it may be challenging to accommodate them when living with roommates.
6. Transient nature of roommates:
In shared apartments, roommates may come and go more frequently compared to long-term leases or living arrangements.
This constant turnover can disrupt the sense of stability and familiarity within the apartment and make it harder to establish long-lasting relationships or a sense of community.
7. Difficulty in finding compatible roommates:
Finding roommates who share similar lifestyles, values, and living expectations can be a challenge. In some cases, incompatible roommates can lead to a stressful living environment or result in early lease terminations.
8. Increased dependency:
Shared apartments may require relying on others for various aspects of daily life, such as paying bills on time, handling repairs, or ensuring shared responsibilities are fulfilled.
This dependency can be a disadvantage for those who prefer more independence and control over their living situation.
Tips For Living In A Shared Apartment
If you’re considering renting a shared apartment, below are tips or guidelines to follow for you to live happily with your roommates.
1. Be polite:
This is one of the most important things to consider before renting a shared apartment. Being polite matters a lot so ensure you respect your roommates in every aspect. Always use polite words like “please and thank you” when necessary.
In cases of roommates that are never satisfied no matter how much you try, it’s best to avoid them in any way possible ways to avoid conflict.
2. Cleanliness:
Always ensure that you keep your house clean ranging from dishes, clothes, and also the bathroom and toilet.
Always make sure you wash the dishes and flush the toilet properly after using it. We are all adults by now. Even if deep down you don’t feel the need to clean or do these things, remember that this is not your area and you are sharing with other people.
3. Ask before you borrow:
You must take permission before using someone’s stuff. If they’re absent and you needed it urgently, you must tell them about it and not wait till they start asking.
However, they’re people who do not like sharing their stuff so it’s very necessary to respect boundaries so as for peace to reign in the house.
4. Respect each other’s privacy:
Sometimes your roommates might not be in the mood to talk. though basic etiquette and friendly smiles should be maintained; it is important that you gauge their moods and do not try to force a conversation at any little chance you get as it can be irritating sometimes even if they don’t voice it out. So, you must give each other space.
5. Inform your roommates about visitors:
Some roommates may not be comfortable with unexpected guests so you must discuss such things with them in advance.
This is very important especially when you’re planning on having too many people over or having someone that wants to stay for a few days.
6. Learn to embrace differences:
Fostering an environment of acceptance, understanding, and respect for the diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and lifestyles of the individuals living together.
It involves recognizing and appreciating the differences that exist among roommates and creating an inclusive space where everyone feels valued and comfortable.
For example, for the neat freaks: a shared flat will never be as sparkly clean as you’d like it. Compromise is a must, and you need to be willing to meet somewhere in the middle. Try to overlook the little things.
What To Look Out For When Renting A Shared Apartment
Before renting a shared apartment, there are several important factors to consider. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
1. Budget:
Determine your budget and ensure that the rent and shared expenses fit comfortably within it. Consider not only the monthly rent but also additional costs such as utilities, internet, and any shared expenses like groceries or cleaning supplies.
2. Compatibility:
Assess your compatibility with potential roommates and also the rules of the apartment. It’s important to discuss expectations, lifestyles, and daily routines to ensure a harmonious living environment.
Consider factors such as cleanliness, noise levels, smoking or pet policies, and socializing preferences.
3. Lease and Legal Matters:
Carefully review the lease agreement and understand the terms and conditions. Pay attention to the duration of the lease, the notice period for moving out, rules regarding guests or subletting, and the process for resolving conflicts or maintenance issues.
Ensure that you have a clear understanding of your rights and responsibilities as a tenant before signing or paying for the apartment.
4. Location:
Evaluate the location of the shared apartment. Consider proximity to your workplace, educational institutions, public transportation, and essential amenities like grocery stores, pharmacies, and healthcare facilities. Also, think about the safety and security of the neighborhood.
5. Space and Privacy:
Assess the size of the apartment and the available private spaces. Determine whether you’ll have enough personal space and storage for your belongings.
If there are shared spaces like the kitchen or living room, consider how comfortable you’ll be sharing those areas with your roommates.
6. Financial Responsibilities:
Discuss financial responsibilities with your potential roommates. Clarify how expenses will be divided, how bills will be paid, and if there’s a system in place for tracking and managing shared expenses.
7. Maintenance and Repairs:
Understand how maintenance and repairs are handled in the apartment. Determine the process for reporting issues, the landlord’s responsiveness, and whether any repairs or maintenance responsibilities fall on the tenants.
People Sharing Their Experiences In A Shared Apartment
while we look at the advantages and disadvantages of a shared apartment, let’s also read some experience shared by some people who lived in a shared apartment, I know some of us can relate and is itching to share our experiences; please drop your story in the comment section so that others can also read.
1. Melissa Ondesko via Quora:
“In college, my two girlfriends and I got an apartment with one of their guy friends. The setup was good, Joy and Carrie had their rooms with an adjoining bathroom, I had my room and bathroom, and Mark had a room with a bathroom off of the kitchen on the other side of the apartment.
The shared common areas were the kitchen, living room, and dining room. The place was $1200 a month, so splitting it 4 ways was great”. continue reading
2. Piyush Pande via Quora:
“Almost every time I had a roommate/ shared house they all or some of them were strangers.
When I was an undergrad I shared a house with 4 other boys, and it used to be fun. It was like a frat house with additional illegally staying friends of everyone using the house as if they owned it. It was crazy until once when nobody was going to be home for 3 days. One of my housemates invited his friends over for a party.
They were 3 boys and 2 girls. It was late at night when they were singing, and the music was loud. Neighbours knocked on the door and asked to turn down the noise. At this time, they all were only high on alcohol. Since their party was interrupted, they decided to turn down the volume but probably that made their lightheaded feeling fade away.
So, one of them opened a packet of drugs (idk what it was) they probably smoked it which made neighbors suspicious again. It was around 3 am in the morning when police broke open the door to find all of them high on drugs and one of the girls was vomiting and almost choking to death while others were in a different world.” continue reading.
3. Angela, via Spleet Africa:
“I didn’t realize how small the apartment was until my friend came over and used the toilet. We had to step out of the house because of the smell. That was when I knew I had to move. My friend has flooding issues in her space at the time so we decided to get a place together. We were very specific about the kind of house we wanted because.. ” Continue reading
FAQs
1. What is a shared apartment?
A shared apartment is where two or more people live in share the same apartment, with each person having their bedrooms but sharing common areas such as the living room, kitchen, and bathroom.
2. where can I find a suitable shared apartment?
You can find a good shared apartment with the help of real estate directories like Zillow , property pro, Homes.com etc.
3. How does sharing an apartment benefit me financially?
By sharing apartments, you can split bills which helps you to save cost.
4. How much should I budget for a shared apartment?
Your budget for a shared apartment varies according to your location however if you’re based in Nigeria you should be considering ₦100k-₦500k.
Conclusion
Shared apartments offer a range of advantages that make them an attractive housing option for many individuals. The concept of shared living has gained popularity due to its affordability, social opportunities, flexibility, and convenient locations.
While shared apartments offer numerous advantages, it is important to find compatible roommates and establish clear communication and boundaries to ensure a harmonious living environment.
It’s also important to note that the experience of living in a shared apartment can vary greatly depending on the specific dynamics and personalities of the roommates involved. Clear communication, mutual respect, and establishing agreed-upon rules can help mitigate some of the disadvantages and create a more harmonious living arrangement.
