Is it easier to live with a friend or a stranger? 

Most people in their 20s who don’t live at home have experience of living with both. 

Increasingly as well, with the surging cost of buying a home, middle aged people are living with housemates in rental accommodation. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, journalist Saoirse Hanley said there are “different schools of thought” on whether it is easier to live with friends or move in with strangers. 

“Some people think yes because you have less investment in them in that way,” she said. 

“You don’t have a relationship initially outside of the house; that can be easier if you’re navigating things that come up.” 

Ms Hanley feels some friendships are too valuable to risk by living together. 

“Any time I’ve lived with friends - particularly close friends - I have found it really hard to raise any issues,” she said. 

“Because I just don’t want to annoy a friend or upset a friend or make things weird between us. 

“Whereas there’s less at stake if there’s a stranger.” 

According to Eurostat, 68% of Irish people between 25 and 29 have avoided this conundrum entirely by living at home.

You can back to the full interview here:

Main image: Cast members of NBC's comedy series "Friends." Photo by Warner Bros Television.