Basic definitions of share houses and room shares

What is the definition of a shared house and a room share?
We have summarized the characteristics of each.

What is a share house?

A share house is a rental property where multiple people share one residence.
In addition to your own room, this property has shared spaces such as a living room, kitchen, toilet, and bathroom that can be used by everyone, allowing you to enjoy interacting with other residents.

What is room sharing?

Room sharing refers to sharing a residence with someone you have a personal relationship with in a rented apartment, and is generally a group of two or three people.
Most people live with their partners who are friends, co-workers, siblings, or lovers, but some people also find their partners through social media.
Rent and utility bills are divided among the number of people living in the apartment, so you can live in a larger room for the same cost as living alone in a separate residence, but you will need to decide between individuals who will share responsibilities such as cleaning and preparing meals.

The main differences between share houses and room shares

What is the difference between a shared house and a room share?
I have summarized it in three points below.

・Differences in housing types ・Differences in management systems ・Differences in lifestyles

Differences in housing types

The communal living space in a share house consists of shared areas such as the living room, kitchen, bathroom, toilet, and washroom, as well as each tenant's private room. Larger share houses may also have theater rooms and studios within the building.
The scope of living in a room share depends on the number of people, but in most cases, people share rooms with a 2DK or 2LDK or larger layout. Since room share is often in a property for families, the common areas are not likely to be as spacious as those in a share house.
When living together, it is important for each person to have their own private room. If there are no private rooms, not only will you not be able to secure your own private space, but you may also end up occupying the shared areas, which could lead to trouble.
Especially if you are sharing a room, make sure the layout allows each person to have their own private room.

Differences in management systems

The property management systems for shared houses and room shares are different.
The share house is managed by a management company.
Management companies recruit and manage tenants and buildings, and some also take care of cleaning common areas. In addition, if a tenant moves out, the management company will find a new tenant.
In room sharing, the residents manage the property together.
The property contract, monthly rent, and utility bills must be settled between residents through discussion.
That's why it's important to decide on the rules before you move in.

Differences in lifestyle

In a share house, you live together with people who have a variety of lifestyles.
Therefore, there is less interaction between residents than in room sharing.
The rules vary depending on the share house, but in some share houses, residents get together once a month for a meal or form clubs within the house, so you might be able to interact with others.
Since you're living with people you know when you share a room, you have less independence than in a shared house.
Unlike a shared house where individual rooms can be locked and a certain degree of privacy is maintained, it is difficult to ensure privacy between housemates.

Tips for choosing the right home for you

Here are three points to consider when choosing the home that's right for you:
・Consideration of lifestyle ・Cost-benefit analysis ・Confirmation of living environment

Lifestyle Considerations

To choose the right home for you, first consider the kind of life you want to live.
We have summarised each point in a table for you to consider.

	Share House	Room Share
privacy	Private rooms with locks available	Most of the rooms are unlocked.
One person time	many	few
Exchange	Less expensive than room sharing	many

Cost-benefit analysis

How much does the cost of living differ between living in a shared house and sharing a room?
We compared the initial costs and rent.

Initial cost

・The general average price for a shared house is around 100,000 yen.
The breakdown is as follows: first month's rent (50,000-70,000 yen), common area fee (10,000 yen), agency fee (10,000-20,000 yen), and security deposit (10,000-30,000 yen).

・Room sharing
The general market price is 400,000 to 600,000 yen.
The breakdown is as follows: deposit (1-2 months' rent), agency fee (30,000-70,000 yen), 1 month's rent prepayment (1 month's rent), and furniture and appliance purchase costs (approximately 200,000 yen).
This amount is the cost incurred when renting one property, so it will be paid by both you and your roommate.

rent

・Share house
50,000 to 70,000 yen

・Room sharing
For two or more people, 40,000 to 50,000 yen per person
The cost of room sharing varies greatly depending on the size of the property you rent and the number of people you will be living with.

Common area fee

・Shared house: 10,000 to 20,000 yen. Some properties include utilities, internet fees, and sundries used in the common areas.

・Room sharing
Common area fees for rental properties are usually around 5-10% of the rent.
Properties with extensive shared facilities tend to be more expensive.

Cost of Living

・Share house
If the common area fee includes items used in the shared areas (toilet paper, dishwashing detergent, cleaning supplies, etc.), you will only be charged for items you personally use, such as food.

・Room sharing
10,000 to 20,000 yen
There are costs for utilities, internet usage and daily necessities.

In comparison, shared houses tend to be cheaper in both initial costs and monthly costs.
Consider your financial situation when deciding which option to choose.

Checking the living environment

When choosing a home that suits you, it is important to check the location of the property and the surrounding facilities.
Before making a decision, check whether the stations you use for commuting to work or school are different, whether there is a supermarket nearby that is open when you will be there, and how the surrounding environment changes between day and night.

Which is better: a shared house or a room share?

So far we have summarized what to know about shared houses and room sharing, but which is better?
Consider factors such as the importance of privacy, your financial situation, and how long you plan to stay in the property.

summary

Both share houses and room sharing have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the person. Think carefully about which living environment suits you best.
I hope that reading this article will give you an opportunity to reconsider the living environment that suits you best.