Shared Housing
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Basics of 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?
Tools and resources:
Rate Your Housing Priorities worksheet- page 140 and 141- The Sharing Solution
State of Grace Document- www.stateofgracedocument.com
Marianne Kilkenny