Warnings

From Peoplebrokers

Advertising can be risky

It is becoming increasingly risky to find a house mate without proper screening. We provide that screening, we also give you advice to screen yourself.

Here is some feedback from one of our members. Because it was taking a while for her the right person to register with us she decided to try a newspaper advertisement. We sometimes recommend this but only if you are cautious - see advice

Most of our members understand that we will not refer someone unless we are confident that it could be a match.

"Dear Chris, Just a quick note to let you know of my recent experience when I advertised in the newspaper for a housemate. I got a response from a guy who was interested in the room and met with him. He seemed fine but something just niggled at me. The next day I ran a search on his name on the internet and what do you know? An article appeared about him and a rape conviction and jail sentence. Thank god I checked!"

Could we add to this by saying that those looking for a room place themselves in the same position and caution should be exercised at all times.

Beware the Flat Share

MARY VISCOVICH reports for the Sunday Herald Sun

A shortage of rental accommodation is forcing some people to make dangerous choices when searching for flatmates.

The Tenants Union of Victoria has reported increased bashings, extortion and theft involving flatmates. Cate Carr, solicitor for the union, said a rush on available houses and flats by university students and more overseas students meant some people were ignoring basic safety pre-cautions.

"When things go wrong they can go very wrong," she said. "A person who moves in with someone who has the lease or owns the house has no tenancy rights."

Clinical psychologist Les Posen said people should trust their instincts if they felt wary about a potential flatmate.

Chris Kaine, director of a flatmate-matching agency, said a South Yarra woman recently arranged to meet a potential flatmate who answered her advertisement at her home. He failed to come to the meeting, but arrived that night with an accomplice to rob the place.

Another woman who rejected a man as a flatmate opened her door the next day to be confronted by the man waving a rifle in her face.

"People are giving out their addresses far too easily and letting total strangers into their homes," she said.

"I advise people to take the person’s phone number, ring them back and get as many details as possible, name, address and so on. Never just give your details out,"

Ms Kaine said most complaints involved personality clashes between flatmates.

"It can get so out of hand," she said. "People will do things like staple the milk carton shut if they don’t want their flatmate to use it."

Recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showed at least 40 per cent of Australians planned never to marry, making the role of flat-sharing more important, Ms Kaine said.