How to find a flatmate in Mumbai safely: where to look and what to check

By The JoinMyFlat team · Updated 23 October 2026 · 8 min read

Where people look

There is no single place where everyone in Mumbai looks for a flatmate. People post in Facebook groups for flats and flatmates, in WhatsApp and community groups for offices and colleges, on Reddit, and through friends of friends. There are also apps and sites made for sharing flats, which is what JoinMyFlat is.

Each source has its own trouble. Groups are noisy and posts disappear quickly, so you may reply to a flat that was taken a week ago. Friends of friends are easy to trust and hard to say no to. A site that shows the flat, the photos and who already lives there saves time, but you still have to do the checking below.

Before you meet: the checks

Ask for a video call first. Someone who will not show their face or the flat is a red flag.
Look at the person's profile or posts. Does the name, the work and the age make sense?
Check the flat is real. The photos should show the same room you will see. Ask for a photo of something specific, such as the view from the window.
Tell a friend where you are going. Share the address and the time.
Do not pay before you have seen the flat. A request for money in advance, before a visit, is the most common sign of a scam.

When you meet at the flat

Go in daylight and, if you can, take a friend. Look at the room, but also the bathroom, the kitchen and the common area, because that is where flatmates disagree. Check the water, the light, the locks and the Wi-Fi. Ask where the meter is and who pays the bill.

Then talk. Do not rush it. A thirty minute conversation can tell you more than any profile.

What to ask, and why

"What does a normal weekday look like for you?" Work hours, work from home days and when you are both in the flat.
"When do you usually sleep and wake up?" A late sleeper and an early riser can get on, but only if they know in advance.
"Do you cook? Who cleans what?" The kitchen is where most small arguments begin.
"Do you have people over?" How often, how many, and how late.
"How do you feel about smoking, drinking and pets?" Better to find out now.
"How do you want to share the bills?" Equal, by room, by usage. See our guide on splitting bills.
"What would you do if one of us wanted to leave?" Notice, deposit and a replacement.

Red flags

Asks for money, a token or a deposit before you have seen the flat.
Refuses a video call, or the photos do not match the room.
The price is far below the area's usual rent, with a story about why. Check the usual range in our rent guide.
Pushes you to decide today, because "other people are coming".
Will not put anything in writing, or the name on the agreement is not the person you are dealing with.
Does not want the owner to know you are living there.

Write it down

Before you move in, get these in writing, even if only as a message that everyone replies to: the rent, the deposit, who owns what in the flat, how bills are split, the notice period and the rules for guests. The paper that matters most is the owner's agreement. Read how a leave and license agreement works with flatmates before you sign anything.

Try it for a month

Move in on the understanding that you will talk after four weeks. Say it at the start, so it is easy to raise. If it is not working, a month is a short time to be unhappy, and a good time to agree to part.

Ready to look? Browse flats in Mumbai and see who already lives in each one.

Questions people ask

Where can I find a flatmate in Mumbai?

People use Facebook groups, WhatsApp and community groups, Reddit, friends and colleagues, and apps and sites built for sharing flats, including JoinMyFlat. Use more than one, because each group is small.

How do I know a flatmate is genuine?

Ask for a video call before you meet, meet at the flat, and check that the person's name matches the agreement. Do not pay anything before you have seen the room and the people. Ask for a work or college ID if it feels right.

Should I pay a token or advance?

Only after you have seen the flat and met the people, and only to the person whose name is on the agreement. Pay by bank transfer, not cash, and keep the receipt.

What should I ask a possible flatmate?

How they spend a normal weekday, when they sleep, whether they cook, whether they have guests, how they feel about smoking, drinking and pets, and how they like to split bills. The answers matter more than how friendly the first meeting felt.

Find a flat and flatmates in Mumbai