Questions to ask a potential housemate before you move in
13 October 2026
You can fix most things about a room, but not the people you live with. A few honest questions before you move in tell you far more than the photos. Here are the ones worth asking.
Daily routine
What time do you get up and go to bed? Do you work from home, work shifts or study at home? Routines that clash, like a night-shift worker and an early riser sharing a wall, are the most common source of friction.
The house
How is cleaning shared? How are bills split and paid? Do you share food or keep it separate? How often do people have guests?
Social life
Is it a sociable house or does everyone keep to themselves? Neither is wrong, but it helps to know which you are moving into.
Ask them to ask you
A good housemate will want to know about you too. Be honest about your own habits; it is better to find out now than three months in.
Make it easier
StayLister's housemate profiles cover lifestyle, schedule and habits, and show how well you match before you even message.