How do I make a draw appear fair?

[sianb]

Here is the dilemma:
I live in a houseshare and we need to decide who gets which bedroom. There are 3 people (including myself) and 3 bedrooms of which one room is less favourable than the others.
I need to ensure that one particular member of the 3 of us gets the least favourable room.
We have yet to come up with how we will choose the rooms, but whatever option has to be 'fair' and agreed on by all 3.
The person concerned will be suspicious (and correct!) that the other 2 of us are trying to fix it. He needs to believe it is totally random.

Does anyone have any ideas of how we can make this work?

[chim_knee]

sianb said:

Here is the dilemma: I live in a houseshare and we need to decide who gets which bedroom. There are 3 people (including myself) and 3 bedrooms of which one room is less favourable than the others. I need to ensure that one particular member of the 3 of us gets the least favourable room. We have yet to come up with how we will choose the rooms, but whatever option has to be 'fair' and agreed on by all 3. The person concerned will be suspicious (and correct!) that the other 2 of us are trying to fix it. He needs to believe it is totally random. Does anyone have any ideas of how we can make this work?

Beat him up? After all, it's two against one.

sorry, nothing more helpful than that. Intimidation has always worked for (and against) me!

>> Edited by chim_knee on Wednesday 23 February 13:57

[docevi1]

my mates all sat together and suggested that the person who took the smaller room could get a rent-break. I think it runs to about £150 or so from each of the housemates over the year and one of the lads jumped at the chance

[b17nns]

so basically you are trying to diddle someone but make it look like your not?

with skills like that you should become an MP for the Labour party.

>> Edited by b17nns on Wednesday 23 February 13:59

[lanciachris]

Solution : Find a houseshare for 2 people

[Mrs Fish]

We had this problem when I was at Uni - 2 decent sized rooms, one tiny one. iI went for the smallest on the proviso that I paid less on the monthly rent...

[esselte]

Names in a hat? (or do you want to be sure you don't get the "bad" room?)

[thegreatsoprendo]

Either stop being such a pair of toerags and actually do it fairly, or weight the rent for each of the rooms so that it reflects their relative attractiveness.

[Plotloss]

Yep fairest way of all is to split the rent according to personal floor space.

So if you have 2 10x10 rooms and one 5x10 and the rent is £500pcm then the split should be 200/200/100

If you see what I mean.

[rude-boy]

simple - try the Blackadder beer drinking comp.


edit to add serious answer is of course to follow the advise of those who have suggested the rent break idea. Not wishing to sound moralistic but, how would you like it if they were conspiring against you?


>> Edited by rude-boy on Wednesday 23 February 14:03

[srebbe64]

Rock, paper scissors?

[coco h]

cheaper rent for that room.

Fiddling the draw is very unpleasant and if I were housemate 3, I would be out of there like a shot - leaving you in the lurch

[sianb]

We've considered the option of a cash incentive - we thought a lump sump up front for whoever occupies the smallest room - offer it to him first, if he declines he has to pay a share to whoever ends up with it.
I know it sounds really cruel, but we have lived together happily for the last four years, housemate number 3 doesn't particularly make use of his current room except as a dumping ground, so wouldn't appreciate the extra space of the better 2 rooms. Bedroom number 3 isn't a bad room - its bigger than all the rooms in our current place just not as good as the other 2 rooms.
The contract is signed so he can't back out - he is a friend, so we don't want any unnecessary upset, just for him to get the small room!

So if we agree on the cash incentive for the small room, how do we draw fairly - current option is 3 golfballs in a bag numbered 1 to 3. Any other more exciting options?

[Plotloss]

Enforcing a rental agreement on a student?

You are having a laugh I take it...

[sianb]

Plotloss said:

Enforcing a rental agreement on a student? You are having a laugh I take it...

We aren't students, we all work for a living!

[Plotloss]

Fair enough but if he smells a rat and walks leaving you to have to cover the rent its more hassle than its worth to persue him for it...

[rude-boy]

Silly question but have you thought of asking him if he would mind having the small room and stating why you think he would have less use of one of the bigger rooms than you and your other friend.

Have to say I'd have sorted this out long before signing the agreement, but then I am a bl00dy solicitor so would most likely have insisted that the room agreement be in triplicate, signed witnessed, and governed by English law...

[mondeoman]

Sounds as though he used to the smallest room anyway, so just talk to him and tell him that as he only really uses it as a dumping ground, it makes sense for him to have that one. Then offer a a slight cash incentive.

Simple.

[sianb]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.
I think will will try asking him to take the small room followed by a cash incentive. If that fails, we will get him to agree to pay his half of the same cash incentive to whoever ends up with the room.

I'm not normally such a b!tch, honest!

[wiggy001]

srebbe64 said:

Rock, paper scissors?

I understand that scissors can beat paper, and I get how rock can beat scissors, but there's no f-ing way paper can beat rock. Paper is supposed to magically "wrap around" rock, rendering it immobile? Why the hell can't paper do this to scissors? Screw scissors, why can't paper do this to people? Why aren't sheets of notebook paper constantly suffocating students as they attempt to take notes in class? I'll tell you why-- BECAUSE PAPER CAN'T BEAT ANYBODY! A rock would tear that s**t up in 2 seconds. When I play rock/paper/scissors, I always choose rock. Then when somebody claims to have beaten me with their paper, I punch them in the face with my already clenched fist and say, "Oh s* * t, I'm sorry. I thought paper would protect you"