Ugly house, brilliant floor plan

As promised - tips on choosing a house to share.

• ignore the decor - the floor plan is more important
• bedroom configuration is important, but having enough living space is vital
• do you need space for 2 dining room tables - think about entertaining people that not everyone knows
• to avoid the overcrowded feeling, make sure there are spaces to withdraw to if you don't feel like a chat
• the kitchen has to be big enough for more than one cook
• are there enough bathrooms/toilets
• are there carparking spaces for more than 2 cars
• does everyone have access to communal rooms without having to walk through someone's bedroom/bathroom/private space

We have an ugly house - 1970s decor - but the floorplan works for the people we have living there.  As much as I can see the potential in this house in terms of renovating, we are only renting it and I have to put a lid on my inner decorator.  There are benefits to renting when you ask other people to share with you that outweigh the need to make the house look like "me".