Moving in with Friends: Pros and Cons, Challenges and Solutions

Living with friends often sounds like the perfect post-college or early-adulthood dream: late-night laughs, shared chores, saved money, and the comfort of having someone who “gets” you right down the hall.

And it is not just the young that are moving in with friends; older adults are also realising the benefits of living with friends, especially in later life.

However, while moving in with friends can be fun and financially smart, it also comes with challenges you might not expect, challenges that can strain or even break a friendship if you’re not prepared.

In this week’s home moving blog, we look at the benefits, drawbacks, essential conversations, and share practical moving tips to help you decide whether living with friends is right for you, and how to make it work if you do.

Whether you’re planning to move in with one friend or a whole group, this guide will help you create a happier, healthier, conflict-free living experience.

Is Moving in With Friends a Good Idea?

Before signing a lease together, take time to understand both sides of the equation. Living with friends has major advantages, but also some challenges that can catch even the closest friends off guard.

Benefits of Moving in With Friends

1. You Save a Lot of Money

Sharing rent, utilities, furniture, and household supplies significantly lowers your monthly expenses. This is one of the biggest reasons people choose to live with friends—splitting costs can save both of you hundreds of dollars per month.

You may also like to read: How Much Money to Save When Moving Home. In this guide, we break down the expenses you will likely face when moving to a new place.

2. Housework Gets Easier

Chores feel far less painful when they’re shared. It’s faster, less stressful, and often strengthens your partnership. But sort this out straightaway, as it is a common cause of conflict in shared homes.

• One person vacuums, another cleans the bathroom
• Alternate dishwashing
• Make a rotating cleaning schedule

3. You Avoid the Risks of Rooming With a Stranger

With a friend, you already know:

• Their personality
• Their general habits
• That they’re trustworthy

There’s no need for background checks or awkward introductions.

You may also like to read: Moving as a Single Parent. More and more single parents are taking advantage of the benefits of moving in with friends. In this guide, we offer some tips to make moving home as a single parent so much easier.

4. Built-In Support and Companionship

A good friend can make a home feel:

• Safe
• Social
• Fun
• Emotionally supportive

You’ll have someone to vent to, celebrate wins with, or just quietly binge Netflix next to.

5. You Get to Be Yourself

No need to put on a façade. With a close friend, you can unwind and be honest about your moods, boundaries, and needs.

The bottom line is that if you communicate well and share compatible lifestyles, living with a friend can deepen your connection and improve both your financial stability and quality of life.

You may also like to read: How to tell Your Parents You Are Moving Out. If you are moving out of the family home for the first time, then telling your parents can be daunting. This guide will help get it right.

Drawbacks of Moving in With Friends

1. Your Privacy May Feel Limited

Even the best friendships need breathing room.

Your friend might want to talk when you want to be quiet. They might want guests over when you prefer alone time. Living together means constant interaction, which can become emotionally draining without boundaries.

2. It Can Create Awkward, Uncomfortable Moments

It’s hard to tell your best friend:

• “Please clean up your mess.”
• “Stop borrowing my clothes.”
• “You owe me for rent.”

Money, cleanliness, and personal habits are often causes of tension.

3. You May Discover Habits That Annoy You

Nobody is perfect, and some quirks you probably won’t be aware of until you share a home.
You may notice things like:

• They never replace the toilet paper
• They leave dishes everywhere
• They’re louder than you realized
• They’re more sensitive or more chaotic than expected

This can shift how you see the friendship.

In a worst-case scenario, if problems pile up without being addressed, your friendship could suffer.

You may also like to read: How to Convince a Friend to Move in With You. In this guide, we suggest the best ways to ask and convince a friend to move in with you.

Things to Discuss Before Moving in With Friends

Honest communication is the foundation of successful co-living. Before moving in, have a clear and honest conversation covering these key topics:

1. Money and Financial Expectations

Discuss:

• How you’ll split rent and utilities
• Payment deadlines
• Budgets and spending habits
• What happens if one person loses income
• How to handle shared purchases (cleaning supplies, toilet paper, etc.)

Money misunderstandings break friendships faster than anything else, so get this right early.

You may also like to read: How to Hold a Garage Sale. If you and your friends have duplicate items or things that you won’t be taking to your new place, why not sell them and make some money towards your new home and life? In this guide, we offer some tips for a successful garage sale.

2. Daily Routines and Lifestyle Compatibility

Talk through your:

• Work schedules
• Sleep patterns
• Quiet hours
• Temperature preferences
• Morning and nighttime habits
• Personal lifestyle preferences (fitness routines, food habits, etc.)

Small differences can become big irritations without awareness.

3. Cleanliness Standards and Chore Division

Agree on:

• Cleaning frequency
• What “clean” means to each of you
• How chores will rotate
• Deal-breakers (e.g., “no dirty dishes overnight”)

Create a simple cleaning chart or use an app like Tody or Sweepy to stay consistent.

4. Shared Spaces and How You’ll Use Them

Discuss expectations for:

• The kitchen
• The living room
• The bathroom
• Decorations and furniture
• Storage space

You might be great friends, but you still need firm boundaries.

You may also like to read: Moving After Retirement. Of course, it is not just young people who choose to live with friends. More and more retirees are taking advantage of the benefits of moving in with friends. In this guide, we look at the pros and cons of moving after retirement.

5. Sharing Personal Items

Clarify:

• Food-sharing rules
• Borrowing clothes
• Splitting kitchen supplies
• What requires permission first

Never assume your friend is “fine with sharing everything.” They’re probably not.

6. Guest and Significant-Other Policies

Cover:

• How often guests can stay
• Overnights
• Parties
• How to handle loud gatherings
• Having partners over regularly

Defining expectations in advance will prevent conflict down the line.

You may also like to read: Should You Move out After College? Setting up a home with college friends after you have graduated is a common thing to do. In this guide, we look at the pros and cons of leaving home after college.

7. How You’ll Handle Problems

Agree to:

• Bring up issues early
• Discuss them respectfully
• Check in regularly
• Avoid letting resentment build

Friendships survive when communication is open, honest, and non-defensive.

8. Alone Time and Personal Space

Make it clear that neither of you needs to be welded to each other 24/7. You can be roommates and still have separate lives.

You may also like to read: 15 Do’s and 5 Don’ts of Moving Into Your First Apartment. If this is your first move, this guide offers tips to make the entire process easier and more successful.

Practical Tips for Moving in With Friends

Once your expectations are aligned, it’s time to plan the actual move.

1. Choose the Right Apartment Together

Consider:

• Rent and affordability
• Size (enough space for privacy)
• Location
• Safety
• Commute time
• Nearby amenities
• Pet policies

Take tours together so both of you feel comfortable with the final choice.

You may also like to read: How to Decide Which Neighborhood to Move to. In this guide, we suggest things to take into consideration when deciding which neighborhood to move to.

2. Compare Your Belongings

Don’t bring duplicates unless needed.
Discuss:

• Furniture
• Kitchenware
• Electronics
• Décor
• Appliances

Sell, donate, or store items you don’t need.

You may also like to read: How to Make a Moving Inventory. Knowing exactly what you and your friend own will ensure that you don’t waste money by packing and moving duplicate items. In this guide, we show you how to make a simple moving inventory.

3. Declutter Before Moving

Get rid of:

• Old clothes
• Unused electronics
• Duplicates
• Items that won’t fit
• Expired or damaged belongings

The fewer items you need to pack and move, the cheaper and easier your move will be.

You may also like to read: How to Declutter for a Home Move. There is no point in paying to pack and move things that are duplicates or that you no longer need. In this guide, we suggest ways to make decluttering so much easier.

4. Decide How You’re Moving

Local move?
You can rent a van and DIY, hire labor-only movers, or hire affordable local movers.

Long-distance move?
Hire pros. Coordinating two households is complex, and professionals make the process safe and easy.

You may also like to read: Ways to Move Home. Depending on how much stuff you are moving and how far, you have many options to get your things to your new home. In this guide, we look at the 7 most reliable ways to move home.

5. Set Up and Decorate the Space Together

Make it feel like home for both of you:

• Agree on themes or colors
• Divide storage space
• Choose furniture that everyone likes
• Add personality to common areas

A shared space should reflect both roommates equally.

You may also like to read: How to Make a Place Feel Like Home. In this guide, we offer tips to help you settle in and make your new place feel special.

Is Moving in With Friends Worth It?

Moving in with friends can be:

• Fun
• Affordable
• Supportive
• And deeply rewarding

But it can also be stressful if expectations aren’t clear.

With good communication, mutual respect, defined boundaries, and thoughtful planning, living with friends can truly be an amazing experience: one that strengthens your bond rather than strains it.

Remember: The best way to have a good roommate is to be one.

Good luck with your move, and be sure to visit our home moving blog, which is packed with guides to make every aspect of your home move easier, cheaper, and safer.