Housing in exchange for services: living with strangers?

Housing in exchange for services allows a Host-provider to offer a room within their home in exchange, for example, for small jobs, help for the elderly, or babysitting.

This practice is generally done between people who do not know each other. It may be worrying at first, but living together with strangers has many advantages.

Living together with strangers: what are the advantages?

This process allows you to create social bonds. Indeed, friendliness is the key to cohabitation, and this stranger will quickly become one of your close ones. Moreover, housing in exchange for services allows you to make significant savings: in exchange for your services, you benefit from a room as well as access to common areas (kitchen, bathroom, living room, garden…), but you can also get help from a masonry expert or a teacher for your children.

This is an ideal solution for anyone wishing to receive help or housing. Furthermore, living together with strangers is not only for young people. Housing in exchange for services is a good way to get back on your feet if you are in a difficult situation (separation, divorce, death).

Housing in exchange for services is therefore the ideal solution for both parties; it allows Hosts and Supportive Cohabitants to make savings and create social bonds.

Rules to follow

Housing in exchange for services is a win-win process; however, there are community living rules to respect.

For cohabitation to be easy and harmonious, it is necessary that everyone puts in effort. Do not forget that it is the Host who receives, and there are certainly house rules specific to them or their family. The Cohabitant will then have to show adaptability.

It is important to be able to communicate with the person before living together. The ToitChezMoi platform offers a messaging service to easily exchange with your future roommate. It is also important to meet the person before committing, to ensure you are on the same wavelength.

Finally, once the verbal agreement is established, you can sign a Host Family agreement which will specify each party's commitments and formalize your relationship.