Shared Housing

Basics of the Shared Housing Model

If you are inviting someone to live in your home:

• Is it legal? Check homeowners association and zoning restrictions, and local ordinances.

• Is it fair?  Can you state gender preferences? Check state laws.

• Screen like a professional: do a credit check, get references, employment history, past landlord.

• Obtain a security deposit. There are accidents (pet barf, red wine). Do it up front!

• Write it down. Use rental agreement +/or State of Grace Document (see Resource sheet)

• Mind the details. Rent is taxable income.

If you are wanting to move in with someone?

• Do your homework. Talk to previous tenants and neighbors of this person.

• Check the fine print: zoning or HOA restrictions. Do your own research.

• Test the space. Spend time in the house.

• Are your ideas on the sharing of common space compatible?

General guidelines for both:

GET to know the people you will be living with. Interview each other.

DO spend time with them, visit them, go to their houses, do a project, go on retreat, do yard work, cook a meal together, how would you want to REALLY get to know someone?

DISCUSS your preferences:  music, food, noise, decor, friends visits, pet peeves, pets!

STRONG RECOMMENDATION:  State of Grace Document

DEVELOP YOUR COLLABORATIVE SKILLS NOW: workshop, training, reading.

• Communication

• Decision Making

• Conflict Resolution

Do you think you know it already? Brush up, tweak it. This is a new chapter in your life.
Get prepared NOW.

Pearls from the Pro’s:

• • Know what you want- location, numbers to share with, your reasons to do this.

  • Don’t let friendship get in the way of taking the necessary steps covered previously.

  • What are you willing to share?

  • What are you picky about?

  • Will we be friends and socialize together?

  • What am I bringing to this home? expectations? desire a family? friends? privacy?

  • How are you going to handle conflicts between each other?

  • What happens when we want to end this arrangement?

Basic guidelines courtesy of Marianne Kilkenny

www.womenforlivingincommunity.com

Tools and resources:

The Blueprint Of We Collaborative Documents