Thinking of moving into shared accommodation? If so, you could become part of a growing number of socially and economically savvy renters who are making house sharing a lifestyle choice rather than a necessity.

House sharing is on the up.

Cohabiting with a group of friends – or a group of total strangers – in a property that would otherwise be unaffordable is an ultra modern way of living.

But is it right for you?

Our Ultimate Guide will help you decide. It’s for anyone considering sharing a house.

And, should you wish to give it a try, check out our 10 Top Tips for House Sharing Harmony

Sharing a house isn’t for everyone.

If you are of the more introverted persuasion and you need to push the off switch now and again in your own little retreat, it may be all too much.

On the other hand, it could be just what you need to expand your social circle.

Many of our tenants end up becoming great friends with at least one of their new housemates.

If you’re slightly more extrovert in nature, thrive on social interaction and laugh in the face of silence, moving into shared accommodation may well fill up a lot more dates in your social diary.

If you’re about to fly the nest, you may well feel devoid of the possibility of home ownership.

You may also be willing to try anything other than the ‘stay with parents’ option.

Such a confident, social animal like you may well be at home in the rental market. And, more specifically, the house sharing market.

With house sharing, you’re never alone. There’s always someone on hand to share a meal with, share your concerns or discuss the pedestrianisation of your local City Centre! Whatever might float your boat.

It’s a great chance to meet new people outside your usual circle of friends.

Even Rupert Hunt, the founder of flatshare website, SpareRoom, posted an advert for wanted housemates.

He has a firm belief that the social benefits of house sharing far outweigh living alone.

Your ultimate aim may well be to own a property of your own. But renting is a good option in the meantime.

When you share a house, you only pay for the room, not the entire house. You can, therefore, save a substantial amount compared to paying a mortgage—and usually live in a better standard of house.

Plus, when you rent a room from an agency or private landlord, your bills are usually included.

Happy days.

You won’t need to be concerned about paying for utilities like gas, electric, water or broadband.

Better still, you won’t have to worry about asking meerkats or opera singers to help you find a good deal when the time comes to renew them. All that is taken care of.

Council tax will also be off your radar.

When you own your own home, you will usually need to commute to work. And that means owning a car is a must.

With house sharing, however, you’re not tied to a specific location.

That means you can generally find somewhere that is more geographically appealing in terms of your place of work—and is also within walking distance or on a bus route.

Landlords tend to opt for properties that they know will appeal to people working at local businesses or organisations.

And it’s certainly true to say that the majority of our student properties are right next to their respective university.

In some cases they’re literally across the road.

Convenience indeed.

Strange heading. What are the health implications of living in shared accommodation?

Well, it has been statistically proven that living with other people and being socially connected can have huge mental health benefits and even prolong life.

Living with other people, especially in a shared house, means that you will naturally – or even subconsciously – make more of an effort to chat and converse.

Sometimes it’s because you don’t want to appear ignorant and sometimes it’s because you just happen to be making breakfast together.

But either way, being socially involved helps ward off loneliness.

Sharing and renting as opposed to owning is now a way of life. And it’s not limited to housing.

Just think about the world around you at this moment in time.

We rent or lease cars as opposed to owning them. Car sharing is now a big thing to help save money—and the environment.

We stream films from media service providers like Netflix. We stream music from a huge selection of songs and playlists from the likes of Apple Music.

All these services are readily available without the need to go out and buy.

Society is changing.

You haven’t failed because you don’t own your own home.

With the average house price estimated to top the £400,000 mark by 2025 (yes, you read that right), house sharing is here to stay.