The ideal flatmate is a bit like the ideal man or woman: you dream about it, but you have a very small chance of finding it. Here are some tips on how to choose the person who will share your home, and in a way your life.

Ask yourself

Before you start canvassing potential housemates, start by asking the right questions of... yourself. Beyond sharing the rent and being friendly, think about what you think are the most important criteria, and then make a list. This list should include the personality of your future flatmate (do you prefer a hard-core party animal or a homebody, a clutter-maker or a neat freak?), but also very practical points, such as gender, age, social function, etc. Note again what would be prohibitive for you: a smoker, a pet lover when you are allergic to cat hair or a hard rock fan when you need peace and quiet (again, these are examples).

Meet potential flatmates

From this point on, you can start looking for the ideal flatmate via the classified ads and meet the people who seem to match your expectations. Be careful, you are not conducting a job interview, preferring a conversation during which you place your questions rather than an interrogation with your list in hand. Among the subjects to discuss, the pace of life of the person you are interviewing, their interests, in short, get to know them better. For topics such as the organisation of the household, prefer the interrogative mode ("How do you see...?"). During this first meeting, remember of course to ask about the person's financial guarantees. The aim is not for you to end up paying the rent on your own after three months!

Give yourself time to reflect

Perhaps you are in a hurry. However, taking your time is one of the keys to success when looking for a flatmate. Time to think about it, of course, but also time to meet the people you like several times, and in different settings. Before making your final choice, don't forget the most important thing: sharing a flat is also a question of feeling. It's best if you get the hang of it from the very first time you meet!

See also: How to be a good roommate?