The perfect housemate is on top of their finances, keeps their nose out of your snacks, and doesn’t mind mucking in with the washing up, it’s emerged.
A study of 2,000 renters revealed the top things they look for in a flat-share candidate, including getting along with your friends, being a culinary whiz, and being generous enough to lend you a fiver when you’re short on funds.
To stay in their good books, the perfect flatmate needs to pay their bills on time, keep the place looking clean and tidy, and keep the washing up from piling up on the side.
One in five think it’s important their perfect ‘housie’ has good music taste, and 27 per cent would like someone who’s always there to talk to when they need a friend.
It also emerged 23 per cent of renters believe they’re lucky enough to have already met and lived with their perfect housemate.
Carol Jiang, global managing director for Badi, an app for finding the perfect roommate according to age, tastes and interests, said:
Finding a new housemate has been a source of anxiety for renters looking to live with new people. But by matching with the perfect housemate who ticks all the boxes, you can easily have a harmonious household.
Our research shows, when it comes to the crunch, we are looking for people who share our interests and lifestyle.
A more discerning 21 per cent would like their perfect housemate to bring little touches and decorations to the place to make it feel like home.
One in seven think a candidate puts themselves head and shoulders above the others by keeping the fridge stocked up with milk and other essentials.
As for interests, the most appealing pastime renters look for in a housemate is a love of books, followed by a love of animals.
One in six can see the benefit of living with someone who knows their food, and one in eight want to find a film buff to share their enthusiasm for movies.
In fact, for three in 10 renters, the housemate match has been so strong they’ve started a romantic relationship with the person they were sharing with.
44 per cent would consider someone they’ve lived with to be one of their best friends.
Unfortunately, the reality of renting and sharing a home with others has meant two in five renters have lived with someone they didn’t gel with.
When asked to think about nightmare housemates past, one in five had lived with someone who raided food cupboards which weren’t their own, and one in six have had to contend with a cohabitant inviting noisy guests around all the time.
According to those surveyed by OnePoll.com, women are easier to live with, and a third of renters prefer to live with females compared to 16 per cent who prefer to live with men.
Carol Jiang added:
Our study shows renters know what they want – but actually finding those perfect housemates is another matter entirely.
And while it’s great to read one in four feel they’ve found their ideal ‘housie’ match, three in four are making do with flatmates they don’t connect with, and that’s what we are here to help with.
Whatever you’re looking for, Badi helps you find a perfect housemate through its AI matches based on your personal profile.
So whether you are looking for a film buff to share movie nights with, a fellow foodie, or a culture vulture to discover your city with, Badi will find the perfect match for you.
Top 10 traits of the perfect housemate:
1. Pays bills without fuss or delay
2. Does their share of chores
3. Always does their washing up
4. Takes the bins out without being asked
5. Doesn’t hog the bathroom
6. Doesn’t leave unwashed plates out on the side
7. Gets along with your friends
8. Keeps to their food cupboard
9. Lets you know before having a house party
10. Is always there for you if you need to talk
Top 10 celebrities renters want to share with:
1. David Attenborough
2. Jennifer Lawrence
3. Emma Watson
4. Stephen Fry
5. Kate Winslet
6. Taylor Swift
7. Adele
8. Dwayne Johnson
9. Gordon Ramsay
10. Rihanna
If you have a story you want to tell send it to UNILAD via stories@unilad.co.uk
Charlie Cocksedge is a journalist and sub-editor at UNILAD. He graduated from the University of Manchester with an MA in Creative Writing, where he learnt how to write in the third person, before getting his NCTJ. His work has also appeared in such places as The Guardian, PN Review and the bin.