Roommate Relocation – 6 Tips For Breaking Up Your Share House 

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It happens for any number of reasons.

Your share house has gone from a place of fun, brilliantly memorable moments to a scene of great horror. Unwashed dishes, unpaid bills. Whatever the reason, when the time comes to dissolve your share house, you’ll need to make sure you’re prepared for any drama that unfolds.

Below are 6 practical considerations to take into account as you say goodbye to your roomies.

Cover Yourself

It’s always a good idea to confront potential issues before they arise. In terms of shared items and goods, come to an agreement as to who takes what (and how they take it) as soon as possible. In the case of items such as white goods (like a fridge), this is important as it allows other housemates to purchase a replacement, or make alternative arrangements.

Keep It Clean

Cleaning is a necessary and much maligned part of the house vacating process. There will be infinitely more mess, and more chores to do than you imagine. If cleaning is the last thing you want to focus on, it’s a good idea to call in a professional.

End of lease cleaning is available in most major cities – end of lease cleaning Sydney, Melbourne or other large centers. Specialist cleaners know all the tricks in order to get your house back to its best, without you having to lift a finger. It’s one less set of chores to divide up, and one less fight to have over whose turn it is to clean the toilet.

Civil Duties

Stressful times (like the dissolution of a share house) often lead to drastic and strained dialogues.

It’s in your best interest (and in everyone else’s) to remain civil. It’s not the time to bring up past slights and fights. Push past feelings of hurt and pain and work to the same common end – a cleaned, bright and ready-to-return property.

If the idea of civil dialogue is not appealing, try mediation. Consult the help of a trusted friend or a counselor in order to treat issues with respect and not cause further damage.

You’ve Got Mail

Make arrangements for your mail and communications to be delivered to your new contact address. This may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people neglect this step. It means that future residents of the house have the task of distributing your mail and communications, which is unfair and unnecessary.

Divide & Conquer

Equally divide any labor, credits and bills between parties. Make sure that tasks (such as weeding the garden, scrubbing carpets and phoning utility companies) are divided up and responsibility is tasked to all housemates.

Bills may continue to arrive up until after the share house has been broken up.

Have an agreement in place (in writing) that each affected housemate will contribute to any bills equally, and make sure bills are paid on time.

It’s Only The Beginning

It’s important to stay in touch with old housemates – sometimes you will need their expertise and input.

In the case above of unpaid bills, contact details are essential so that money can be collected. It’s also good to have their details in case there are issues with bond or future real estate dealings – in any case, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Breaking up a share house can be traumatic for a number of reasons, but there are things you can do to remove the complications. The above tips will prepare you for a number of scenarios, with a calmer, clearer idea of what to expect and how to take action.

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