How Difficult Is Renting an Entire House/Apartment Then Getting Roommates?

[Roketsune 388]

I have some decisions to make about housing because of very adverse decisions made by the landlady of where I am living now. There are many routes to go and innumerable variances in various traits, and one of them is to rent a house or apartment myself and then seek out roommates, rather than the other way around which I have been doing for years. I am utterly inexperienced with this and thus I ask you all for advice.

 

I have been living in a house with up to 5 occupants for over two years here, renting out a room for 350/month (including utilities). I have been very complacent and unimaginative with regards to housing, but I was forced not to be when she decided to evict me due to the supposed effect my gender non-conformity has on her business there (the effect is pretty much zero).

 

There is a wildly unpredictable legal component here which will affect costs and timetables since I have to fight in court even for the 60 days she must give me, and to raise the discrimination issue (this is illegal under the federal Fair Housing Act and HUD's interpretation of the protected Sex category, in case anyone is in a similar position). Do I rely purely on state law and try to leave by 28 December, or do I rely on federal protection and appeal a loss which seems likely (I might get a judge who agrees with a pro-trans interpretation, though) after the state's statute is followed? Is turning this into a protracted siege worth the costs financially? Will HUD or any organization assist me with appeals?

 

However, the other component is even more important, the housing strategy. Do I look for low-income subsidized housing (I'm disabled and get benefits for that), or do I look for a room? What filters do I use to prevent both information overload and endangering myself with a bad situation? What is my cut-off financially and with regards to public transit? Yesterday and today, I had a rather important realization, one that is late and I am rather embarrassed about given my identification as a strategist and tactician: I could rent a 3+ bedroom and then bring in roommates to sustain that, giving me control and saving me from having to rely on the tolerance and whims of other people.

 

Of course, I have never done something like this in my life, and this is the largest public place I am a member of on which such a question is within decorum. I also would be preferring bronies and furries in such a circumstance, so it's also somewhat relevant to bronydom. I have minimal knowledge of this process and thus need advice. Are such places usually furnished? Are there costs involved that I am not aware of (beyond utilities or having to suffer if a room is vacant)? Is there a high likelihood even with proper vetting and precautions, I will have to contend with bad roommates? Will finding suitable roommates take over a month usually? Is it considered reasonable to lower my share of expenses and increase those of the others (like, if there are 4 of us, have them pay over 25% each and me less) if I oversee the place and pay the landlord? Should I actually look more towards buying a house with some sort of home loan instead (I have nothing for collateral and am already 6k in debt, but have decent credit ratings), and then rent the remaining bedrooms as I would if I was only renting the place to pay for the mortgage and utilities?

 

I thank you all in advance for your assistance. I hope I can pursue this option so I can for once be in charge of things and provide a suitable place for upstanding bronies and furries and others to live.

Edited February 18, 2017 by Derpy Avenger

[EpicEnergy 23,218]

I'm not able to offer any advice because I've never been in a situation like that before.

[Dreambiscuit 9,795]

When I moved into an apartment it was already being rented by a friend of mine and she invited me to be her roommate. Eventually she moved on to other arrangements and I stayed in the apartment. At that time I invited my cousin to move in with me because it was mutually beneficial. It was easy for me to start out with someone else who was in need of a roommate rather than getting a place and then hoping I’d find one later.

[Splashee 28,564]

How difficult? Question is, is it worth it? Who wants to live with roommates? Like, for reals?

[Lucky Bolt 35,063]

I don't know, I've never had the experience of even living on my own yet. I have plans to move in with my boyfriend after I move out of my parent's place. Will we have roommates? I hope not but we will see where the road of life takes us lol.

[The Kaeya Simp 13,988]

2 minutes ago, Splashee said:

How difficult? Question is, is it worth it? Who wants to live with roommates? Like, for reals?

for some people (especially in some really expensive areas) it's their only option

[TotallyNotNyx 15,566]

I doubt that I'd survive a week on my own lmao 

[Fluttershyfan94 5,742]

I see no reason for renting or doing so with a roommate I already have done the calculations and the answer is you don't need to rent or get roommates. Though best is to just have a partner like the one you are in a relationship with. If housing costs you too much money then renting is not going to be any cheaper for you.

[Megas 27,652]

Depends on where you live.

The money needed to rent a house in the midwest or southern states is barely enough to rent out a studio apartment in Southern California

[Stone Cold Steve Jobs 22,440]

Where I live you need two jobs and some extra income to make rent, especially if you’re young.nobody wants to live with roommates but here it’s just impossible otherwise.

Edited June 15, 2020 by Stone Cold Steve Tuna

[Splashee 28,564]

I would say, nothing is difficult except trying to control or regulate rules for your roommates. They are the freeloaders.

[Retro*Derpy 3,185]

When my parents wanted to move I stayed and got an old co-worker to roommate with. A lot better living with just one other person.

With a steady job renting an apartment isn't bad. Finding someone that is livable with... just make sure you're thorough with each other.