The pros and cons of dating your neighbour

You never know where you might find love – at your local coffee shop, in the gym or even in your rental’s elevator. If you think you've found your future soul mate in the latter, then you’re about to find out that dating your neighbour can get complicated. Honestly, whoever came up with the “boy next door” fantasy didn’t have a clue!

Still, you can’t help who you love, so I’ll let you be the judge. Here are the pros and cons of dating a neighbour.

Pro: Talk about convenience!

At home movie nights and dinner dates are literally just a couple of steps or an elevator ride away. This will allow you to spend more time with your significant other cuddling up on the couch or getting to know each other better. In the dead of winter, who wants to battle the cold and leave the building anyway?

Con: Getting too comfortable too fast

Getting comfortable with your significant other is an awesome feeling, but inter-building dating might lead you to get too comfortable, too fast. If you don’t carefully balance going out and staying in on date nights, you might find yourself hanging out in your pyjamas and ordering take-out sooner than expected.

Pro: You get to know them very well

There’s no place to hide when you’re dating your neighbour, so you’ll get to know your beau’s schedules and affairs very well. Not to mention the close proximity will probably lead you into their rental fairly quickly, and there’s nothing like dissecting a person’s home to help you figure them out.

Con: What privacy?

Living close to your significant other is great, until you don’t want to see them. Everyone needs some alone time, but that can be impossible if you start to feel like every spare minute should be spent next door, or you meet at the mailbox or the pool or the fitness room whether you want to or not. Set boundaries and make sure no one comes knocking uninvited.

Pro: Cash surplus

Quick dates will often not require a coffee date rendezvous or a cheap bite to eat at a local bistro. That means more cash in your pockets.

Con: It’s the little things that matter

On that same note, missing out on the small things that couples usually do when first getting to know each other may lead your romance straight into hot water. You want to get to know your significant other in all situations. Do they offer to pick up the bill? Are they snarky with the Starbucks barista (big turnoff!)? It’s all these small things that can make you see a significant other in a different light.

Pro: Two rentals are better than one

When you’re inter-building dating, you’ll never have to worry about running out of anything again. You’ll basically be living out of two apartments. One more bottle of wine? I’ll go upstairs to get that.

Con: Talk about an awkward break-up

When you couple-up, there’s always a potential break-up if it doesn’t work out. Hopefully, you’re both mature enough to do this in an amicable way, but let’s be honest – no one wants to bump into their ex, let alone be stuck in an elevator with them. Now that’s awkward elevator talk!

Now that you know all the pros and cons, the choice is up to you. Will dating your neighbour be in your future?