After months and months of hunting every inch of London for the perfect place, you arrive in your new flat only to discover the stranger behind that quirky room ad is HOT. Jackpot! The temptation is obvious – guilt free, on tap lovin’ right on your doorstep. But before you get naked and jump on in this Valentine’s Day, acasa, creators of a free app for housemates and certified experts on the trials and tribulations of flatsharing, are about to tell you why dating your housemate is ALWAYS a bad idea.

1. PDA

It stands for Public Display of Affection and it makes everyone else in the house gag. Even if they seem cool with it at first (they’re not), the “cute” hand holding always spirals out of control. We all know a couple who just can’t keep their hands to themselves – by the front door, in the living room, in the – did you know we eat in there? – kitchen, outside in front of the poor neighbours. You get the idea. No? Then it’s probably you making everybody cringe.

2. Arguments (think of the children!)

The honeymoon period is over and you’re having your first lovers’ tiff, in full display of your terrified housemates. Do they have to pick a side? Or do they just scurry away into their rooms and avoid eye contact with both of you for weeks? Yeah. Dating your housemate is fun.

3. Sex. Loud, annoying sex.

We all love a little bit of naughty time. But there won’t be the ‘your place or mine?’ question because you’re living together, under the same roof, probably no more than three metres apart at any given moment (thanks Landlord). Okay, you still have the dilemma of the ‘your room or my room or the kitchen table?’ question, but that’s as far away as it’s going to get. Oh, and that’s not even mentioning the paper thin walls 😉

4. Privacy, darling

Every once in a while, we all need a space of our own – a place to hide away and watch Netflix for days on end. How will you feel when this space is invaded by a needy, clingy housemate who pops up in your face every 5 minutes? After a couple of weeks, literally NOTHING will be left to the imagination. And let’s not not even mention the shared bathroom (ew).

5. Let’s play the (un)happily married couple

It’s great living together right? You cook, I’ll take care of the cleaning. Easy. Until one of you starts leaving the dishes in the sink, or not replacing the milk. Suddenly you’ve aged 20 years overnight and your weekends are now all about finishing your list of chores so you can escape the endless nagging. You don’t even remember your other housemates’ names (and why can’t we just throw them out of OUR house?!)

6. The break up (yes it’s going to happen!)

Imagine the two of you breaking up but still having to live under the same roof. Do you honestly think you can live together again in harmony like before? What about the first time one of you brings back a hottie from a night out? Oh the irony, oh the jealousy. Did we mention, your walls may be thin? imagine if you lived next door to each other’s room and you hear a little creek in the middle of the night.. and you’re all alone.. what else is there to do?