Would you pay more for the perfect flatmate?

New research published by Spark Energy has found that the majority of tenants would actually pay more per month to live with the perfect flatmate.

Related topics:  Landlords
Warren Lewis
27th March 2017
question 88
"The revelation that so many people would spend money to live with the perfect flatmate was quite a surprise and could potentially lead to an industry trend"

The survey, which was issued to a large panel living in rented accommodation across the UK found that almost 70% of people which share a flat, stated they’d fork out to find the ideal cohabiter.

Almost a quarter of (23.6%) renters would splash-out over £201 per month on top of their rent for the ideal room-mate, while 22% would pay between £1 and £99, with the average flat-sharer reckoning £112.40 would be their limit.

Renters living in Wales topped the table for spending the most to find the ideal flatmates, committing to £138.30 per month, closely followed by people in London who would consider £129.30 a week, or £1551.60 over a year.

It was also found by 50% of respondents that meeting potential housemates face-to-face is still the most successful method, with only one in six renters advocating websites as an effective finders’ tool.

The average age which Britons living in rented accommodation think they’ll be able to afford their own house is 33, rising to 35 in London.

One in six respondents (17%) don’t believe they will ever be able to raise the money to purchase property, with 18% of females sharing this view.

People living in Manchester reported the highest age bracket outside of London for being able to afford their first home, with people in rented accommodation not expecting to step onto the property ladder until they are 35.

The Welsh also held the large percentage of people who would never be able to buy their own home, with 27% sharing this sentiment.

The research also found that being clean and tidy is the number one attribute of a good flatmate (as voted by 74.4% of respondents), men prefer sharing with three people while females preferred two on average. Almost 70% of Londoners renting in London think that their best ever flatmate is also from the capital.

Optimistically, 96% of respondents like people they currently live with.

Shaun Burnett, Spark Energy’s Director of Customer Experience said: “Our flatmate survey has revealed a number of interesting insights about the perceptions and attitudes of people living in rented accommodation. The revelation that so many people would spend money to live with the perfect flatmate was quite a surprise and could potentially lead to an industry trend.

This information is really useful to our business through our focus on the rental sector, helping us to know customers which can only be beneficial to the service we can offer.”

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