Discussion - Shared Housing vs. Living Alone – Which One is Better?
FOR:
Living in a shared house or apartment is becoming more common among young people in Japan. In fact, living in shared accommodations is better than living alone for several reasons.
First, it is easier to make new friends in a shared house. Everybody makes an effort to get along, thus creating a very friendly atmosphere. By sharing household chores and making a pleasant living environment together, strong bonds of friendship will certainly be formed.
Second, if you live alone, returning to an empty home can be depressing, especially after a hard day. A shared house on the other hand, is much livelier. If you feel down, you can talk and vent with
housemates in the evening! Finally, living in a shared house is safer. A person living alone could be vulnerable to a robbery. In comparison, a home invasion, for example, is much less likely in a shared house.
AGAINST:
On the face of it, the idea of living in a shared house or apartment might seem attractive. However, in reality, this is not a recommended option. Living alone is preferable for the following reasons.
First and foremost, living alone is easier than living in a shared house. In the latter situation, you might end up sharing accommodations with a disagreeable person or even a strange person. Surely that would be difficult to endure.
Second, in shared accommodations, there is a loss of privacy to some degree. Usually, housemates share the living room, kitchen and bathroom areas. Although your own room is private, the general lack of privacy may be too much.
Finally, it is an unfortunate fact that some people are not particularly clean. They do not clean up after themselves and leave places in a mess. Thus, if you are unlucky with your housemates,
shared accommodations might be dirtier or messier than a private apartment.
