Journal · Housemates
Split the rent fairly when the rooms are not the same
The shared-plus-room method for splitting rent when bedrooms are different sizes.
Three housemates, three bedrooms, one rent. But one room is bigger, one has its own bathroom, and one faces the afternoon sun. Splitting equally rarely feels fair.
The shared-plus-room method
Rent pays for two things: the shared space (kitchen, living room, corridors) and your own room. Split them separately.
- Agree on how much of the rent is for shared space. Somewhere between 30% and 50% is common. Everyone uses it equally, so split this part equally.
- Split the rest by the size of each bedroom.
A worked example
A three-bedroom flat costs S$3,600 a month. The housemates agree that 40% is for shared space.
- Shared part: S$1,440, split three ways = S$480 each
- Room part: S$2,160, split by floor area
| Room | Size | Room share | Shared | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master | 16 m² | S$864 | S$480 | S$1,344 |
| Room 2 | 12 m² | S$648 | S$480 | S$1,128 |
| Room 3 | 12 m² | S$648 | S$480 | S$1,128 |
Total: S$3,600.
Adjust for extras
Size is not everything. Add or take off a small fixed amount for:
- a private bathroom
- a balcony or better view
- a room with no window or air-con
- a couple sharing a room (two people use more of the shared space)
Agree the adjustments before anyone moves in.
Put it in writing
Write the split down, with the date. If someone moves out, you can apply the same rule to the new housemate without starting the discussion again.
With Perpax
Perpax, coming soon from Goldmend Money, will keep a flat group with the rent split, monthly reminders without amounts on the lock screen, and a clear record of who has paid.
General information, not financial or legal advice. Figures are examples. Check your receipt and official sources.
Next: Split utilities and internet with housemates, without the monthly argument