10 things to keep in mind before picking your flatmate in Qatar

The high rents in Qatar leave some expats with no option, but to share accommodation. Also, a lot of people don't prefer living alone, and like to have someone around the house, even if not at all times.

If you're going to opt for shared accommodation, here are a few things you should keep in mind.

Meeting face to face

No, it is not enough to meet your flatmate only once, when showing him/her your house, or vice versa. Set up a coffee, and spend a couple of hours to get to know each other before you decide on anything. This is a great chance to ask all the right questions, and get all the answers.

Show them around

It might not be enough to show pictures, and take them around just your apartment. If your building complex has any other amenities like a gym, pool, etc, it might help your potential flatmate's decision making to see all what the accommodation offers.

Be specific

Ensure you lay down all the rules on the table, and tell your potential flatmate exactly what you want or expect out of them. And give them the opportunity to do the same. If you both are in agreement, only then does it make sense to proceed.

Be transparent

Let your flatmate know all the costs involved in advance – like if electricity and water or internet is additional, or if not. If there are any other payments that need to be divided, they need to know well in advance, as this might be a deciding factor for many.

Do a background check

It is important to know where your flatmate works, and what exactly he/she does for a living. Also, a new entrant in Qatar might not be aware of travel times and unknowingly choose a flat because it fits their budget. You might want to find out about everything they do and give them the right information.

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Agreement – It would be ideal to have a shared agreement, but this might also be more complicated. If you want to take ownership of the flat, then do so, but make sure you have some sort of arrangement with your flatmate on record.

Deposit – Since every apartment or accommodation here requires a deposit, it is advisable to also take a deposit from your flatmate. Either take a cash advance, and give them a post-dated cheque in return, or just take a post-dated cheque for the deposit amount.

Bills – make sure that once you have discussed all costs involved, you also devise a suitable plan to either split the bills, or take responsibility of one/all bills.

Source – Make sure you find your flatmate only on or through a reliable source. A website that nobody has ever heard, might not be the safest option for you to find someone to share your house with. If someone is recommending, make sure you know him or her well enough to trust his or her recommendations.

Be upfront – Ensure your potential flatmate knows all about your living habits, frequency of visits from your friends and family, and everything else you think a person needs to know about you before living with you.

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