This year FRIENDS is celebrating 30 years since the show first aired. Times may have changed, but surprisingly, the highs and lows of renting and living with roommates haven’t all that much.

Don’t believe us? We’ve put together a list of 5 lessons we’ve learned from FRIENDS about having roommates that still remain true in 2024:

1. Sometimes strangers make the best roommates

Does anyone remember that Monica and Pheobe used to live together? Nope, us either. That's because it was very short-lived as Phoebe decided to move out for the sake of salvaging their friendship. While you and your bestie might see eye-to-eye on most things, when it comes to being able to spill spaghetti on sofa cushions without it being a big deal, you may quickly realize that you aren’t so compatible when it comes to living together. According to a SpareRoom poll, 55% of renters agreed that strangers made the best roommates - that’s over half! Take Joey and Chandler for example. The pair set the bar for on-screen bromances, yet they met and became roommates through a newspaper advert.

2. Make sure you and your roommate are compatible before you move in

It’s a good idea to get to know your prospective roommate(s) a little first to make sure you’re compatible. Shortly after Chandler asks Eddie to be his roommate, he discovers they have nothing in common; Eddie hates Baywatch, sports, and dehydrates fruit for fun. Don’t make the mistake Chandler did and ask someone to be your roommate on a whim in the supermarket. Whether you’re looking for a best friend or someone just to share the occasional beer with, try and find someone who’s on the same wavelength as you.

3. Don’t bring home an unexpected household pet

Adopting a baby chick may seem like a good idea at the time, but in actuality, there are a lot of things to consider - from deciding whose responsibility they are, to ensuring you have the time and space to accommodate an animal in your home. Getting a pet is something you should run past your roommates (and landlord) before you decide to bring one home. But if everyone is on board, why not get a duck too?

4. Set boundaries on what household items are shared

Making it clear what’s shared within a household can get a little blurry, especially if you’ve become good friends with your roommates. To quote Joey, “Why can't we use the same toothbrush, but we can use the same soap?”. For ease and financial reasons, you may decide to split the cost or take it in turns buying things like shower gel or coffee. But don’t make the mistake of assuming that your roommates will want to share everything with you! And, FYI, toothbrushes are always off-limits.

5. Never refuse your roommate's offer to cook for you

A major perk of having roommates is the occasional offer of having dinner cooked for you. Unfortunately, some of us have roommates with the culinary skills of Rachel Green - not Gordon Ramsey - which might mean saying yes to a beef trifle...Being cooked for is a gesture of friendship, and is often a bonding experience between roommates. A SpareRoom survey found that people who eat together find it improves their mood (87%) and has a positive effect on their living environment (88%)*. So do yourself a favor and always say yes. There’s always time later on to gently suggest some cooking tips.

There's a reason why FRIENDS remains a cultural phenomenon years later, and it’s not because of the questionable haircuts and (slightly) outdated comedy. Finding the right roommates beats living alone - especially when it hasn't been your day, your week, your month or even your year…

Notes to editors

*SpareRoom research with 1,045 renters