Tips for getting a roommate in Qatar

Moving to a new place poses the most important task, of finding a place to live. This should be planned well in time with careful selection of all available options. Shared accommodations are a catching trend in Qatar, and work successfully with all parties satisfied with the outcome. Sometimes you can find rooms on rent when families leave for vacations during the summer. If you are staying for a short period, or want to test the waters before making a long-term decision to stay in Qatar, this is the ideal time for you to have a soft landing in Qatar for a few months before heading out to your next destination.

Plan well in time. If you know you will be requiring a shared place to stay at a certain time, make your inquiries beforehand and start searching for the potential roomates right away. This saves time and the hassle of having to choose in a hurry; which would probably reap undesirable results.

Be clear and firm about the important details. It is best to be clear about your personal habits and preferences and upfront about your expectations in keeping things that way. While it’s not a good idea to be a stickler about most things, some preferences are not negotiable. These could be a few important things, like cleanliness, splitting the bills, or sharing chores and responsibilities at your place. If you are moving into a shared accommodation, be very clear on your terms too. With mutual respect for each other’s space and responsibilities, you can meet each other at the same level and make it work.

Personal habits should be similar. If you prefer private time to yourself more often, bring that up at the very first meeting. Everyone has different habits, and requesting the roommate to respect yours while you respect theirs is a good start.

Financial details should be settled before anything else. There is no point in delaying or ignoring this topic before finalizing the deal. Create a billing plan and be clear where you want to share the bills and expenditure. Some people might not want to share the expenses, have a backup plan in that case.

Be honest but discreet. Be careful in divulging too much information about yourself. Sharing accommodation with a stranger is one thing, being indiscreet about your personal life and choices, is another. All parties should respect each other, and only share your details when you are sure you can trust them.

Don't settle for less. If you spot any red flags or feel that the candidate isn’t being upfront and honest about something, take heed and don’t settle. Listen to your gut feeling. If you don’t feel comfortable with someone now, it is unlikely you will develop more than tolerance later on. And there are better options than tolerating habits that you find yourself stressing over. Be flexible, but also be picky on important stuff, don’t compromise on your deal breakers.

Be meticulous in your search. When searching for shared accommodation online, read the descriptions thoroughly before contacting the poster. Both parties should agree on a number of things, including responsibilities, having guests over and needing quiet time. Make a written list of all these points that you can refer to when needed, or make amends as you adjust in the routine.

Search online. There are a few good online portals to search for shared accommodation and roommates. These include Qatar Living, roomster.com, airbnb.com/Qatar and expat.com. On this Qatar Living page, just click on the ‘shared accommodation’ tab and hit Search.

There is no right or wrong way; it’s just different people with different habits. And for roommates, it’s best to stick to people who have similar values and habits as your own.