A checklist for moving into a share house for the first time

• How does the house already split extra bills (beyond rent) — equal, by percentage, by usage?
• Is there an agreed cleaning schedule, or is it 'everyone figures it out themselves'?
• Is there a shared grocery list, or does everyone buy their own?
• What's the policy on guests, and on leaving earlier than agreed?
• How much is the bond, and what condition does the place need to be in to get it back?

Before you unpack, take photos of your room and the common areas — any mark, stain or broken thing that was already there before you arrived. It feels excessive until move-out day, when someone asks whether that scratch on the floor was you.

If the house already uses some kind of move-in inspection checklist, take it seriously — that's exactly what it's for. If it doesn't, it's worth proposing one: it's quick to do and avoids bond disputes down the line.

Even if the house already has a routine, it's worth talking directly with whoever already lives there about anything that wasn't clear in the listing: how bills get split, whether there's any shared fund, who's responsible for what.

It doesn't need to be a formal meeting — but it's worth having that conversation early, while it's still easy to adjust the agreement, instead of waiting for the first disagreement to happen.

• Assuming 'it'll sort itself out' — most friction actually comes from things that were never agreed on in the first place.
• Not photographing the room's condition at move-in, and having no way to prove it at move-out.
• Not asking about costs beyond rent before committing.
• Thinking a group chat is enough to organize chores and groceries — it works for a little while.