Whether it's the threat of crazy housemates, living with people who are untidy, or just the possible lack of privacy. For some people, the idea of house sharing is just not something they would consider. Here at Love Your Landlord however, we are fans of house sharing and have had great experiences moving in with total strangers. In our opinion the upside to house sharing easily outweighs the potential negatives. If you are happy to do a bit of leg work then it can provide a great alternative to moving into a place on your own that you can barely afford, or living with someone you'd rather not – parents, exes, etc.

Our experiences of house sharing has taught us that the most important thing is to give yourself enough time to look at plenty of places before you choose somewhere to move into. Picking the first place you find is often not the smartest move. Even if you look at others and then move into the first place you saw, that makes more sense.

This is especially important if you are moving out for the first time, or are new to the whole house sharing thing. Learn a bit about the area, see what different landlords charge and what is included. Then of course there are the people you'll be living with!

Now there is only so much you can get from and 5/10 minute look around a house, or chat with the current residence, so you need to make the most of the opportunity. Asking questions is an absolute must. Before you go looking, spend some time thinking about what is important to you and what questions will get you the information you need.

How many people live in the house? How long has each person lived there? Is there a high turnover of tenants? What's the landlord like? Find out which room would be yours. How many people will you have to share the bathroom with? Is there a cleaning rota? Are there both guys and girls that live there? Do they have lots of parties, or enjoy going out? Do they socialise together, or do they each do their own thing?

Whatever is important to you is what you should find out before you leave the viewing!

Here are a few other reasons why we love house sharing:

· Cost – House sharing is usually cheaper than moving into a place on your own

· Friends – House sharing will provide you with a ready-made social circle and you may end up with lifelong friends

· Flexibility – Many landlords are more easy going with the contracts of house sharers compared to those renting alone

· Independence – Giving you an option to move from where you are currently, when you may not be able to otherwise

· Shared responsibility – You don't have to run a whole house on your own

Warming to the idea of housesharing? Read our recommendations of the best websites offering rooms for rent!