How easy will it be to rent a 2 bed flat with someone?

93123

A family member is turning 18 soon and has suggested that we rent a flat together because we both want to move out (I live in a bedsit and she lives with parents) and I want to start planning it. This is all theoretical and we won't do it if we don't think we will be financially secure.

So, if we found a 2 bedroom flat that cost £400 a month (or can 2 bedroom houses be as cheap?)

Income: I don't know how much she gets exactly but I don't think it's less than £150 a week. I'll find out tomorrow when she's awake but I can't sleep and I wanted to keep busy lol.

I've been put forward for a job and I'm likely to get that which will be around £114 a week. If not then I've still been desperately applying for the past few months and hope that it won't be that difficult to find a job that pays at least that within the next 3 months. If I don't then I'll wait until I do.

I live frugally, I don't smoke, drink or go out much. I have a bus pass so don't need travel expenses and am currently on DLA but that's not secure as PIP is coming in.

Taxes etc: This will be my first paid job so I'm not sure, and she lives with her parents currently. What additional costs will we incur if I come off ESA and if she leaves her parents house, or are there none?

Bills

Rent:
Council Tax:
Water:
Gas:
Electric:
Phone/broadband:
Food:
Anything else?

I will need help with the bills part. I've worked out everything for a single person when I moved out before but a lot of things have changed and it's two people now. I don't know how council tax, discounts and anything else I may need to know changes when you don't live alone.

Would we struggle, theoretically? Is there anything else I should know?

Any contributions are welcome! Thanks!

grifferz

93123 wrote: »

A family member is turning 18 soon and has suggested that we rent a flat together because we both want to move out (I live in a bedsit and she lives with parents) and I want to start planning it. This is all theoretical and we won't do it if we don't think we will be financially secure.

Have you ever lived with someone before? Be aware that it can be stressful and despite knowing someone as a friend for a long time they can be very different when you have to live with them.

Once you both sign you'll both be jointly liable for the total rent and you'll be committed to a lengthy agreement (6 or 12 months, usually). That can be a long 6 months if you find out you are totally unsuited to living together, and it can be an expensive 6 months if one of you flakes out and does a runner leaving the other to cover the full rent.

Also does your friend fully understand how much money this is going to cost over and above what she is paying now? It is monumentally hard these days for young people to get on the housing ladder, and having a third to half their income going on rent and utilities instead of to savings could set her back years. She is only 18 so there is no shame in staying with parents a bit longer especially if she is adult about it and kicks in a fair share towards running the household.

Possibly there are other motivations for your friend to move away from her parents; what I am saying is if the only reason is that "it would be fun", do realise that this fun comes at quite a steep cost to her.

93123 wrote: »

So, if we found a 2 bedroom flat that cost £400 a month (or can 2 bedroom houses be as cheap?)

Flats will usually be larger than a house that has the same number of bedrooms. Flats are less likely to have a private garden, may have a shared garden or no garden at all. If neither of you are interested in gardening and there are green spaces nearby, a shared garden or no garden may be an advantage. If there is a private garden then you need to look after it.

The main downside of flats for renting is that you'll have neighbours close by (possibly thin walls, plus possibly above and below), so will need to be more careful about not disturbing them with noise, and there is more risk they will disturb you. You can move most likely after 6 months though, so not the end of the world.

Houses are unlikely to be cheaper than flats, but depending on your area there may not be much in it. Just search online and you will soon get a feel for it.

93123 wrote: »

I've been put forward for a job and I'm likely to get that which will be around £114 a week. If not then I've still been desperately applying for the past few months and hope that it won't be that difficult to find a job that pays at least that within the next 3 months. If I don't then I'll wait until I do.

Most places that you rent through will want to do a reference check and an affordability check on the both of you. You'll both need jobs to pass this. You'll need to be able to prove your incomes through payslips etc.

Your friend is going to have difficulty with the reference check since she doesn't have a prior landlord. They may take a reference from her employer.

93123 wrote: »

I will need help with the bills part. I've worked out everything for a single person when I moved out before but a lot of things have changed and it's two people now. I don't know how council tax, discounts and anything else I may need to know changes when you don't live alone.

Your list of bills looks reasonable. You forgot TV licence, and contents insurance.

When my girlfriend moved in with me ~5 years ago we did not notice the utility bills go up very much compared to what they were before she moved in. Remember that you will not be entitled to the single person discount for council tax any more. It will have to be paid between both of you.

93123 wrote: »

Would we struggle, theoretically? Is there anything else I should know?

You seem to have a reasonable handle on the financial matters. Only your budget plan can tell you if it is financially feasible. I would just reiterate that sharing with someone is as much about whether you get on socially as well as financially.

I am not trying to tell you not to do it. If you feel that the two of you in a two bedroom property would be a better standard of living than you alone in a bedsit then you should look into it, but do consider every angle.

Good luck!

93123

grifferz wrote: »

Have you ever lived with someone before? Be aware that it can be stressful and despite knowing someone as a friend for a long time they can be very different when you have to live with them.

Once you both sign you'll both be jointly liable for the total rent and you'll be committed to a lengthy agreement (6 or 12 months, usually). That can be a long 6 months if you find out you are totally unsuited to living together, and it can be an expensive 6 months if one of you flakes out and does a runner leaving the other to cover the full rent.

Also does your friend fully understand how much money this is going to cost over and above what she is paying now? It is monumentally hard these days for young people to get on the housing ladder, and having a third to half their income going on rent and utilities instead of to savings could set her back years. She is only 18 so there is no shame in staying with parents a bit longer especially if she is adult about it and kicks in a fair share towards running the household.

Possibly there are other motivations for your friend to move away from her parents; what I am saying is if the only reason is that "it would be fun", do realise that this fun comes at quite a steep cost to her.


Flats will usually be larger than a house that has the same number of bedrooms. Flats are less likely to have a private garden, may have a shared garden or no garden at all. If neither of you are interested in gardening and there are green spaces nearby, a shared garden or no garden may be an advantage. If there is a private garden then you need to look after it.

The main downside of flats for renting is that you'll have neighbours close by (possibly thin walls, plus possibly above and below), so will need to be more careful about not disturbing them with noise, and there is more risk they will disturb you. You can move most likely after 6 months though, so not the end of the world.

Houses are unlikely to be cheaper than flats, but depending on your area there may not be much in it. Just search online and you will soon get a feel for it.


Most places that you rent through will want to do a reference check and an affordability check on the both of you. You'll both need jobs to pass this. You'll need to be able to prove your incomes through payslips etc.

Your friend is going to have difficulty with the reference check since she doesn't have a prior landlord. They may take a reference from her employer.



Your list of bills looks reasonable. You forgot TV licence, and contents insurance.

When my girlfriend moved in with me ~5 years ago we did not notice the utility bills go up very much compared to what they were before she moved in. Remember that you will not be entitled to the single person discount for council tax any more. It will have to be paid between both of you.



You seem to have a reasonable handle on the financial matters. Only your budget plan can tell you if it is financially feasible. I would just reiterate that sharing with someone is as much about whether you get on socially as well as financially.

I am not trying to tell you not to do it. If you feel that the two of you in a two bedroom property would be a better standard of living than you alone in a bedsit then you should look into it, but do consider every angle.

Good luck!

Thanks a lot!! A massive help.

Ah yes a TV license. Is contents insurance necessary??

I have lived with other family before for about 6 months. I lived with my 2 older cousins and their 4 children and dog. I hated it purely because it was so noisy all day every day with screaming kids and the barking dog and the kids wouldn't stay out of the room I was in. This family member is like my twin, she's quiet and we both like staying in our bedrooms lol. Also we'd both be working whereas I was surrounded by the mayhem 24/7 as I was unemployed.

I'll double check her income and run the estimated bills past her tomorrow and hopefully it will be possible! Fingers crossed I'll be making slightly more than £114 p/w as even though I don't have "a life" it's nice to be secure.

grifferz

93123 wrote: »

Is contents insurance necessary??

Yes unless you wouldn't mind potentially having to pay to replace all your property should there be a break in, fire, etc.

It's going to be about £70 a year for a basic policy that easily covers both your stuff so it isn't something that I personally would skimp on.

Granted the excess on that might be as high as a couple of hundred pounds so if it was just a case of someone breaking in and nicking your ipod maybe you wouldn't care, but what if they break in and take your TV, two laptops and a load of jewellery?

But if you are willing to risk that then no it is not necessary.

93123

Ok thankyou!

I also just used the PIP checker and it says I shouldn't be affected by it until 2015. I have an indefinite award. That's a relief to know because I thought it would stop around April this year.