Asking for a friend: 'I've a crush on one of my new housemates. We're very flirty and I think they feel the same about me. Should I go for it or is it a bad idea?'

"I really like the other four people that I am sharing the house with, and it's a nice space. My question is, I think I am developing a crush on one of the other housemates, and I think they feel the same from what I can tell. We are very flirty and there's been a few moments when we had some drinks that it felt like we might kiss, but it didn't happen."

"This can be tricky territory since it's also your home. It could go swimmingly well, but you also have to consider the possibility of it not going so well. Your hesitation could be your intuition sounding a warning, so exploring why you feel this pause is a good thing to do in this situation. Thinking with your head rather than your heart is crucial here."

A new houseshare resident is developing a crush on a housemate and perceives mutual attraction through flirtation and close evenings in shared spaces. Rooms are on different floors, but common areas encourage interaction and a housemate has noticed a spark. The resident feels hesitation despite believing a romantic relationship could work. Romantic involvement with a housemate carries potential benefits as well as risks to the home environment and household relationships. The hesitation may reflect intuition; examine underlying reasons, weigh pros and cons, and prioritize clear thinking and boundary-setting before acting.

Read at Independent