Use tools wisely.
Expensure for debt resolution. Just use it, don't tabulate debts by hand, there is no need to.
If you are sharing groceries, set up a Google doc spreadsheet for the weekly grocery list.
Whiteboards are invaluable for sharing information in a household with people who are in and out intermittently, and can hold a weekly menu (again, if you're sharing food).
Obligatory plug for our software: Chore distribution is kind of difficult; schedules sort of work, but they're not ideal for giving people chores they dislike the least and allowing flexibility. If you're interested in using a free market system to distribute chores, we wrote a web app for that purpose. We've used it for ~7 months to great effect. If you're interested in using it, I will personally give you tech support.
The house I lived in last semester used all these things and was extraordinarily efficient at providing meals and a clean house to all residents.
Also, I second the comments about having official house rules negotiated explicitly, and setting times to renegotiate them if necessary. Reasonable people can have different preferences about states of the house/apartment, and when that happens it's very important to air these concerns and come up with explicit solutions (or compromises if you absolutely have to).
At our most recent meetup, the London LessWrongers began discussion of setting up one or more houses in the capital. This thread is intended for discussion and advice on planning ‘rationalist households’ and on making them thrive. You can also register your interest in being part of a London, UK rationalist house here.
Those who currently live in or have previously lived in rationalist households, or who have relevant experience, are particularly encouraged to share their experiences, and any data on house setups is most welcome. It would be great if we could get case studies of several rationalist households, to compare approaches and aid other organizers.
We’re considering having a room for visitors and people who are only in the city for part of the year, with an Airbnb-type arrangement for that room at other times. Therefore, we are seeking advice from Airbnb hosts on setting this up, as well as on its advantages and disadvantages.
We would also like to hear about the common pitfalls of group living in order to avoid making basic errors.