You can share information about yourself with any potential flatmate so
that they understand you also. You want to get to that point of feeling harmony
and understanding between each other.
Try and get a gauge on how financially responsible your would-be flatmate
is, this is important if it's your name on the lease, or decide whether your
flatmate should go on the lease with you. Remember that your flatmates name is
on the lease is responsible for the condition of the property and the payment
of the rent. This burden can be shared by adding names to the lease which you
can do with the property manager or landlord.
Note that you may also wish to obtain a bond from the flatmate and this
needs to be documented appropriately between yourselves or with the property
manager or lodged directly with the bond board in each state.
Once you've found someone you think you could possibly live with, be sure
to make a list of ‘good house guidelines’ and write them down. This would
include sharing the shopping or laundry duties, cleaning schedule, telephone
schedule, putting the bins out, the do's and the don'ts. And perhaps even
consider agreeing upon an escape plan if things just don't work out: who
leaves, who stays, etc.
Having a flatmate can be discovering a friend for life. Just take it
slowly and realise that respecting your flatmate as an individual and some well
placed compromise is the best way to survival and a great friendship during
fantastic years of enjoyment!
