Good Reasons NOT to Homeshare

While homesharing has many benefits, it is not without its challenges. Based on years of experience, there are even times when we might discourage an individual from homesharing. Some of the obstacles to happy homesharing include:

• Clashing / strong personalities. It helps to be curious about others and their experiences, rather than judgmental; flexible rather than rigid. Know yourself, and have a clear-eyed view of what it's like to live with you. 

• Privacy concerns. Sharing space with others necessarily means you are not alone. While your housemate might see documents or overhear conversations, there are things you can do to protect your privacy. It is also possible to retrofit a home to provide higher levels of privacy by building walls, separate entrances, kitchenettes (rather than having a shared kitchen), and private outdoor spaces. For some people, privacy concerns are insurmountable.

• Personal Security. There are two sides to the security aspect of homesharing. Some people want to homeshare because having another person around makes them feel more secure; for others, it’s the opposite. Know where on this spectrum you land.

• Security of possessions. For those who have a lot of valuable possessions that they worry about, having another person around may not be ideal.

• Uncertainty or possible instability: Financial or health instability does not make for satisfying homesharing. If you see yourself having to move soon, regardless of the reason, it might be best to not start the homeshare process.

  
  

What have we missed? Comment with any good reasons you know of to NOT homeshare.

Use the questions below to consider what your homesharing challenges will be, or add your own ideas in the comments.

• Clashing / strong personalities: Am I more judgmental or more curious?

• Privacy concerns. Am I willing/able to do what is necessary to mitigate any privacy concerns?

• Personal security. Would I view my housemate as increasing my personal security or decreasing it?

• Security of possessions. Are my possessions valuable/important enough to me that I don't trust other people around them? Am I willing / able to accommodate another person being near my possessions?

•  Uncertainty or instability of my housing situation. Do I see myself in the same living situation for the next 24 months?

Based on what you know about yourself, what do you think are your top three obstacles to a successful homeshare?

• Having a strong personality or lack of flexibility
• Significant privacy concerns
• Feeling less personal safety with another person around
• Concern for the security of my possessions

See All Options

You can vote for more than one answer.

Next: How Much Control Do I Have Over Who I Live With?

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