THE DEVIL YOU KNOW

Landlords aren't normally our favourite people, so it's easy to grasp the appeal of renting from a friend. But this setup can come with its own tribulations, as Katie Rosseinsky finds out

- Katie Rosseinsky

You need a new place to live. Your friend has a room going spare. In theory, it should be a win-win. You know you get on with them, and maybe they'll charge you less than the (exorbitant) market rate. They could, they say, do with the extra cash. And your new “friendlord” will surely be easier to deal with than some faceless landlord - right?

Against the tumultuous backdrop of the UK’s property market, it is easy to see the appeal of a setup like this. Finding somewhere to rent that is just about affordable - and wasn’t last refurbished in the previous millennium - can feel like an impossible feat, especially in a big city filled with would-be tenants just like you (but with better salaries).

And, on the other side of the propertydivide, homeowners are seeking ways to mitigate the rising cost of living, too. According to flatmate-finding platform SpareRoom, the number of homeowners taking in lodgers increased by 89 per cent between January 2021 and January 2024.

But what happens if the heating cuts out in the middle of winter, and your supposedly reliable pal ignores the problem? Or if they start tutting every time you put a new load of washing on? When a pal becomes a friendlord, there is always a risk that a relationship of equals might sour into an uneven (or potentially toxic) power dynamic. And if it all goes wrong? You might lose a friendship and end up scrolling SpareRoom again.

Jessica* had recently become self-employed when she noticed that Lily* had posted on Instagram about wanting to rent out a room to a friend. Newly freelance, she wasn’t in a position to buy a place of her own, but wanted a change of scenery. And the house, she adds, was “gorgeous” - so she “gleefully accepted” the deal.