How to find a flatmate fast

Ideally you will have time, but that is not always the case. Whether you have a roommate moving out on quick notice or rent has suddenly jumped, there are any number of situations where you may need to fill a room quickly. If you find yourself in this situation we have some tips on where to start.

Create a listing on Roomies

We admit - a little biased here. But Roomies is the largest roommate finder which means by posting on Roomies you are putting yourself in front of the biggest audience. So big, that someone finds a place on Roomies every 2.1 minutes. Get started with your free room listing.

Be clear and upfront

In your listing be clear about what you are offering and what you are looking for in a roommate. Be descriptive about your room and include photos that give a good sense of the space. Describe what is included (is it furnished? And think about bills, utilities, internet, parking, etc.) and what is allowed (are pets allowed, what about smoking?). Inject your personality to give others an idea of what it will be like living with you.

This helps in reducing the early back-and-forth re-iterating details and automatically filtering out inquiries from flatmates that would not be a good fit. You can save your time and focus on the best options.

Be proactive

When time is of the essence you are best to be proactive in your search.

1. Promote your room on Roomies

   A promoted room will be broadcast out to many more users and get rented 4.8 days faster on average. It is sent to many more matches, highlighted and bumped in search results so people are drawn to your listing.

2. Share with friends and family

   Consider sharing your listing with your friends and family to see if they know anyone who could be a good fit. You can also share to your social media - you never know who in your circle could be looking for a change.

3. Reach out to roomies that you like

   Do not just wait for people to reach out to you - jump on Roomies and browse roomies looking in your area. Save the people you would like to live with and start the conversation. Being quick shows you are serious and gets the ball rolling.

Be safe

Even if time is sensitive be sure to do your due diligence.

1. Prepare a roommate agreement

   You can start with our free roommate agreement which is a simple template to get the terms down on paper. Having a signed agreement is a great step to protect both you and your tenant.

2. Take a security deposit/bond

   Where applicable accept a security bond to secure the property against damage. Be aware of local compliance around bonds; there are often restrictions on how much they can be in relation to rent, and requirements on how quickly they need to be returned.

3. Check their verifications

   Roomies provides a number of verifications that can be purchased and shared on the platform. Some rooms will require a background check, but Roomies also offers identity checks and credit checks. You can ask the applicant to provide these credentials for you to review.

Happy searching

You can find a roommate quickly so no need to stress, but using these tips will help you narrow down your list of potentials and speed up the vetting process.