Real Renters: “The house I almost never lived in, became one I never wanted to leave”
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When Lillianne, 27, was turned down after a house viewing, she was crushed. But by a stroke of fate, she ended up living in that very same house - and now counts her housemates as some of her closest friends. Here’s her story, in her words…
In 2019, I moved from New Jersey to London for a job at UCL. I was 21, and thought why not? It doesn't have to be forever. So I moved in with one of my good friends, but we quickly realised living together didn’t work for us - a reminder that friendship doesn’t always mean compatibility as housemates.
Now, I live in a four-bedroom terraced house in Archway, North London. It’s spacious, has a garden, and is just 30 minutes from work. On Saturdays there’s a market in the square nearby and there’s also two lovely parks and a tonne of pubs to choose from which host karaoke and quiz nights.
It's a funny story, actually, about how I came to live here. I originally viewed this house and thought it went great. So I was gutted when they chose someone else. In a turn of events -or fate - a month later, the person they’d chosen decided to move out. Luckily the housemates remembered me and they messaged to ask if I was still interested. Of course, I said yes immediately.
I remember my first video call with one of the guys in the house before I viewed it. At the end of our call he said “I’m gay - is that okay?” to which I replied, “Cool. I’m queer too.”. It was never an essential for me to live with other queer people, but it definitely helps that we have shared values. Also, I think we tend to gravitate towards each other because we have similar interests.
A moment I’ll never forget after I moved in was when one evening, one of my housemates knocked on my bedroom door and said “We’re going to have ice cream. You coming?”. The four of us skipped down the street, arms linked. I remember at that moment feeling so accepted. I love it when people match your weirdness. I knew from then on that we’d be friends.
“One evening, one of my housemates knocked on my bedroom door and said “We’re going to have ice cream. You coming?”. The four of us skipped down the street, arms linked. I remember at that moment feeling so accepted.”
Although I have a close circle outside the house, my housemates are now some of my best friends. We all lead very busy lives, but it’s nice to know there’s always someone around. I know I can always message the group chat and ask if anyone's free that evening. We play board games, regularly do the local pub quiz, cook dinners, or have BBQs when it’s sunny. We also make an effort to spend time together, like recently, we had a house night out in Soho. It was so fun.
“I have no plans to move out. I love living here - It feels like home.”
I’m about to turn 28 and really value a nice living space now. We all chip in for furniture and décor, often buying second-hand. We even share a Monzo account for house expenses. Our latest purchases were some sun loungers and a grill for the garden.
I’m the youngest of 6, so there’s something about housesharing to me that feels comforting. I like a busy house and having people to hang out with. Maybe one day I’ll feel differently, but right now I have no plans to move out. I love living here - It feels like home.
“As a household I think we’re really kind, which is what we look for in anyone who lives here - and somehow, we keep finding it.”
In the past three-and-a-half years I’ve lived here, we’ve had several subletters and a few new housemates. We’ve used SpareRoom each time and we’re still friends with every single one of them. As a household I think we’re really kind, which is what we look for in anyone who lives here - and somehow, we keep finding it.
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