Whoever you decide to live with, it helps if everyone agrees on some ground rules before moving in together. If everything's clear from the start, it could save major rows later on.

• What rights will you have?
• Does the landlord or lender know you're living there?
• Are there are any house rules?
• Will anyone be claiming benefits?
• Who pays for what?

What rights will you have?

Check that everyone understands what type of agreement they will have and what it means. Whose name it is in will make a big difference to your legal rights.

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Does the landlord or lender know you're living there?

If you're moving in as a lodger or subtenant, ask the person you're renting from whether they have permission from their landlord or mortgage lender to rent a room out. If they don't, you won't have many rights.

If the landlord or lender decides to evict the person you're living with, you will have to leave too.

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Are there are any house rules?

Just going with the flow rarely works. If you can, find out:

• Which part of the house or flat will be your part?
• Is there a cleaning rota, to save arguments over the washing-up?
• Is there a no-smoking rule?
• Can girlfriends or boyfriends stay over regularly?
• Will everyone socialise together, or will you all lead separate lives?
• What's the policy on parties?
• What do the other people in the flat do? If they work, what are their hours?
• Are you allowed pets?
• Does anyone else in the flat own pets?

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Will anyone be claiming benefits?

If someone is claiming benefits, living with other people may affect the amount they receive. For example, if your friend or partner is claiming housing benefit, it will probably be reduced if you move into her/his place.

Even if you don't pay any rent, the Housing Executive assumes that any non-dependents living in a property should be making a contribution to housing costs and will make a deduction from the housing benefit they pay.

If you move in with someone who is claiming benefits and that person does not inform the Housing Executive and Social Security Office of this fact, s/he  could end up having to repay any overpayment to the Housing Executive or be prosecuted for fraud.

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Who pays for what?

Most people who live together argue about money occasionally. But it helps if you're clear about certain things from the start:

• How much rent you will pay, when and how it will be due, and who you will pay it to.
• Will you have to pay for rates on top of your rent
• How you will divide up household bills - especially the phone.
• Is there a kitty for communal items like toilet roll and washing-up liquid?
• What happens if somebody breaks something? Does it come out of your shared deposit or does the person who broke it have to pay for it?