Housing crisis Australia: Mates swap rooms every six months to halve the rent evenly

Two housemates decided to swap bedrooms every six months and split the rent evenly. 

Sam and Jake, from Melbourne, agreed on the compromise as one room is larger than the other and has an ensuite bathroom.

The mates recently made the switch, with Jake getting the shorter straw this time round and was left with the smaller bedroom. 

Sam recorded the process in a video shared on TikTok but was left questioning whether the decision is ‘genius or dumb’. 

Surprisingly, they’re not the only housemates in Australia who have opted to switch rooms during a tenancy period. 

Housemates Sam and Jake, from Melbourne, agreed to swap rooms every six months as one room is larger than the other and has an ensuite bathroom

‘Is this bloody genius or downright dumb? Me and my housemate Jake swap rooms every six months,’ he said in the video. 

‘We were both happy to pay the same rent and because one room’s bigger than the other and has an ensuite we were like, let’s share.’

While Sam admitted the process can be ‘a bit of a pain’ he said it’s a ‘good way to clean out’ and declutter your belongings.

In the short clip, the duo grab all their clothes to move into the opposite room.

Thousands weighed in on their decision and opinions were divided.

Surprisingly, they’re not the only housemates in Australia who have opted to switch rooms during a tenancy period

‘Nah that’s smart,’ one wrote, another said: ‘We’ve done the same for the last two years.’

A third added: ‘It’s such a great idea to swap rooms every six months it’s a [day’s] work but it’s such a good compromise.’ 

But others weren’t on board with the idea.  

‘I would be far too lazy to go through with this,’ one person admitted. 

‘I’d rather just pay a little extra or less and keep one room the whole time,’ another said.