Why More People Than Ever Are Choosing to House Share
With the rising cost of living, more and more people are choosing to go down the house-sharing route than ever before. Although house and apartment sharing may have once been stereotyped for students and single young adults trying to get their careers off the ground, house sharing is now a fantastic option for remote workers, freelancers, families, and individuals well into their 30s and 40s. Here’s why.
House Sharing Vs. Traditional Renting
There are many differences between house and sharing and traditional renting, with each option offering a range of advantages and disadvantages. For many, house sharing provides a sense of community, helping to ease the pain of loneliness and providing a space where a group of people can share not only financial burdens but household burdens too – such as cleaning and cooking.
Roommates usually rent from a landlord or live with a homeowner, which means that, like traditional renting, they’re free from household management. They may be responsible for smaller tasks, like changing a light bulb or two, but ultimately, renters are not responsible for big maintenance tasks, such as leaking roofs or electrical faults.
That said, shared living might not be for everyone. Those who prefer to stick to their own routines and like their privacy might not care for the chaos that house sharing offers.
An In-Depth Look into the Benefits of House Sharing
House Sharing is a Great Way to Save Money
It’s no secret that the cost of living has affected the majority of people’s lives. One of the biggest areas affected is the rental housing market. With rent in popular cities such as New York City and Boston climbing higher and higher every single year, more individuals, particularly the younger generations, are finding it difficult to afford apartments on their own. Even a small studio apartment in the heart of NYC can cost thousands of dollars in rent a month.
Shared housing is an excellent solution for individuals who wish to live in thriving cities without worrying about climbing rental prices. However, splitting the rent or tenant screening isn’t the only thing that lessens the load. Those who share a house or apartment can also share the costs of wi-fi, water, electricity, and other bills, saving them hundreds of dollars a month. People are then able to prioritize other areas of their lives, such as their savings and their social life.
Almost all house shares also come fully furnished, which means renters don’t have to worry about purchasing expensive items such as beds or closets – or even pots and pans for cooking; everything is likely already included within the property.
It Beats the Loneliness That Comes With Living Independently
Living on your own can sometimes feel isolating, especially if you’re new to living in the middle of a busy city. But by sharing a house or apartment with others, city newcomers will get to meet friendly faces who can help them navigate their new home as they settle in.
Additionally, people may develop deep, lasting friendships with their new housemates. They may even connect with people from entirely different walks of life, who they would never have met under different circumstances. Living with and getting to know even just one person can help combat the loneliness that living alone can cause.
It Simplifies the Chaos of Day-to-Day Life
The day-to-day life of cleaning and general house upkeep can feel like a mammoth task when you live on your own. However, in an ideal world, shared living eliminates this entirely. With multiple people living under one roof, all roommates can pitch in with the cleaning and work together to keep the space nice and tidy.
Professionals and Remote Workers Benefit Hugely From House Sharing
House-sharing is a great option for remote workers and freelancers who generally work from home and might find their careers isolating. Sharing with others, whether it’s just one roommate or four, can relieve some of that isolation.
Furthermore, specific roommate-matching platforms can help you find roommates that fit in with your lifestyle. This means remote workers can find other professionals working from home to live with, helping them form both professional connections and a structured work-from-home routine with someone else who just gets it.
Finding the Right Roommates
Living with someone else doesn’t always go smoothly. For house sharing to work for you, you need to find a property that fits within your lifestyle, dream location, and budget. But, more importantly, you need to find the right roommates. Roommate-matching platforms such as SpareRoom.com can help you find the right people to live with. Combining detailed listings and direct messaging with in-depth search filters, you can use their platform to find a roommate who shares your values, goals, and day-to-day habits, which will make sharing with someone else much easier.
Final Thoughts
With the hike in rent and other living costs, house sharing is an excellent alternative to more traditional renting. Rather than carrying the burden of finances yourself, house sharing allows individuals to split it between two, three, four, or sometimes even six roommates. But it’s not just your finances that can improve with sharing a house or apartment – shared living also often means getting to know people from all walks of life and making new friends. And with the cost of living continuing to rise, there’s no indication that shared living will slow down any time soon.
Last Updated: April 2025
