Sharing rented accommodation

This content applies to Scotland only.

Housing laws vary between Scotland and England. This page applies to Scotland only. Get advice relating to England

When you share rented accommodation with other people, it's important to choose carefully who you live with and to check that you understand your rights. Your rights will depend on whether you and your housemates have joint or separate tenancies and who your landlord is (for example, the council or a private landlord). This will affect how easily you can be evicted, and what you can do if you have problems with your housemates.

Choosing who to live with

If you're leaving home for the first time, choosing who to live with can be as important as choosing where to live. Do you want to live on your own, in a house or flatshare, with friends, or with your girlfriend or boyfriend? Check out the pros and cons before you decide. Read more 

Things to agree in advance

Deciding who to live with is only the beginning. Next you need to decide whether you will have joint or separate tenancies - this will have a big impact on your rights. It also helps if everyone agrees on some basic ground rules before you move in together. If everything's clear from the start, it could save you from having major rows later on. Read more 

Your rights if you share

If you're moving into shared rented accommodation, your rights will be different depending on who you live with and whether you have a joint or separate tenancy. This page looks at your rights if you stay with a friend, live with your landlord or share with other tenants, and explains the differences between joint, separate and sole tenancies. Read more 

Joint tenancies

If you and your flatmates or housemates have a joint tenancy agreement, you will all have exactly the same rights and responsibilities. This means you are all equally responsible for paying the rent and keeping to the terms of your tenancy agreement. If you have disagreements, you are responsible for sorting them out between yourselves. Read more 

Problems with housemates

You might have problems with the people you live with because they are not paying their share of the rent or bills, because they are noisy or because they don't do their share of the household tasks. This page explains what you can do about it. In serious cases, when your landlord, the council or the police may be able to help. Read more