There are a lot of advantages of having a roommate. It`s not only the fact that you pay less for the rent – if you are sharing a place with a stranger you can end up with a new friend. Living with other people can be difficult – some people even ruin their friendship just because they have assumed that they will be fine living together because they already know each other. If things work out well, there`s nothing like shared friendship and joy that comes from the living with a close friend. Read on and check our advice on how to live with a roommate and be a good one yourself.
- What are the ground rules for living with a roommate? You and your flatmate should define them. Sit down beforehand and discuss the situation – draw limits and understand each others preferences as well as dislikes. Talk about the things you want to share – if you have some kitchen appliances making your roommate buy extra ones is pointless. Also, make sure you share out the household responsibilities – performing regular domestic cleaning, cooking, taking the trash out – there are many things that should be considered. If you both don't like cleaning you can hire professional house cleaners to do that for you – you can share the cost of the service. The important thing is to distribute the household tasks in a way that you are both okay with them. You should follow your obligations once you have divided your responsibilities.
- An aspect that is often the reason behind an unsuccessful roommate-ship is not paying on time or ignoring the fact your roommate paid for the repair of the kitchen sink last week, for instance. This goes both ways – not splitting the bills even can result in undesirable tension between you and your flatmate. You should set up rules that concern the overall appearance in the house in order to get your deposit back – don't forget that at some point you will have to perform an end of tenancy cleaning so discuss this issue, too. If you have agreed to share the groceries make sure you are even when you are shopping – if you can`t remember the last time you bought bread or toothpaste maybe it's high time to do that.
- Once you have shared your responsibilities it’s a good idea to set up a household chores schedule – do the tasks you are signed up for without your roommate having to remind you. Hiring professional domestic cleaners is not always an option if you are on tight budget so don't forget to clean up after yourself – there is nothing worse than a messy roommate. You don't have to be a clean freak but leaving dirty dishes for ages in the sink or cluttering the living room with your personal belongings can get up on your roommate’s nerves. Vote a minimum standard of cleanliness you will both keep and respect.
- Important aspect you should not neglect is creating zones – arrange the communal space in a way it can accommodate many activities. There should be space for working and studying, relaxing and eating. If you or your flatmate have a hobby that requires a particular condition, for instance painting, create a zone that has appropriate lighting and comfortable big desk or flat surface to be used. Try making the kitchen multifunctional if you are tight on space in the living room – adding a small sofa in your kitchen can create a whole new living area. Also consider writing notes to each other if you can't always contact your roommate when something happens – having a small blackboard is not only a cute interior accent but a practical way to leave a message such as “I’ll be home at 9 o'clock”. Communicate and always get the things straight right away – tell each other when you don't feel comfortable with something. Compromise is the key to living in harmony.
- In the same line of thought, it`s a good thing to have monthly house meetings – nothing proves how incompatible we are like living together. Plan a short talk every month to check on if everything is working well in your shared household. This is especially important when you are both busy and don't have time to discuss some issues on daily basis. Don`t blame each other but listen and make compromises. Always have a friendly approach and you will see that keeping a happy house is not that hard.
- A common roommates conflict concerns making too much noise. No matter if it is loud music or noisy friends that stopped by for a drink – discuss your social lives and synchronise them. If you are a night owl keep your music down and turn the lights down when your roommate has to wake up at 6 in the morning for work – try keeping each other`s sleep undisturbed. Another aspect that may become a problem is inviting guests over – your roommate`s new lover or random college may make you feel uncomfortable especially when your flatmate hasn't told you for their visit and vice versa – always inform each other in advance.
- Another essential aspect to a favourable living together is to spend time with each other. As we mentioned you may start living with a stranger but that doesn't mean you should treat them like that. Talk to each other, ask them how their day was and pay attention to the important events in their life. If you know that your roommate has a test tomorrow, make sure you provide them with a comfortable environment for a studying - go out for the night. Being a good roommate usually means that you will get the same attitude from the other person.