How To Be A Good Housemate
How to be a good housemate: the Dos and Don’ts
Let’s start on the right foot!
Being a good housemate can make life a whole lot easier. Sometimes it’s a doddle, you all get along and live harmoniously, sometimes it’s not that easy. Living with people you don’t know or have only known for a small period of time can come with its perks as well as challenges.
It’s important for you and your housemates to create a good relationship early on. Consider acts of kindness to be money in the bank that will benefit you if problems arise. Sure, you shouldn’t have to clean up after someone else, but doing so might encourage others to take care of your washing up now and again.
Do
If you and your housemates don’t know one another, getting together before you move into the house or just after and finding out what each person is like is a good way to break the ice. Go out for a drink as a group or have a night in cooking together and speak to one another about their studies or work and get a sense of who each of you are as individuals.
Respect is important – everyone has their own way of doing things and what might seem right to one person may not work for another. You may not agree with each other but having respect for other people’s opinions, views and boundaries will allow you to understand your housemates further and learn how to find ways that will benefit everyone in the house.
Pitch in – to be a good housemate you all have a responsibility for the general upkeep of the house, for ensuring you get your deposits back at the end of your tenancy and for general cleanliness.
Pay your rent and bills on time! If you find it easier to all pay together, allocate one person to send all of your money to and they can give their details to your landlord and send the money over via one account. Have an allocated day where everyone sends the money over and make sure that the whole lump sum is sent out as soon as all the money is together.
Speak to each other! Whether you’re living with new people or living with friends and an argument has erupted, it’s always good to speak to each other directly. In order to be a good housemate you all need to be honest from the get go about where you all stand with one another. Having good communication set up early on is vital for developing healthy relationships with the people you live with
Let your housemates know if you have invited people over to the house, with the intention of drinking/going on a night out. Respect that your housemates may have early starts the next day, or if they simply want a chilled night. Letting them know your plans and when you will be leaving the house will show that you respect them and will make them aware of what’s happening. Communication is so important! Even ask if they want to join you! If they don’t want to, respect their decision and make sure everyone is up to speed with your plans
Knock before going into your housemates room – to be a good housemate means respecting their space and whether they want people in their room or not
Spend time together! This allows you to get to know what each of you is like and feel more at ease as a group. Be a good housemate and organise a house meal down at your local pub. Have a night in cooking, drinking (alcoholic or non alcoholic, it’s your choice!) and watching films/chatting. Getting used to each other’s company will make you all feel so comfortable living together you may end up as a little family by the end of your tenancy!
Don’t
Leave all the house responsibilities to your housemates. You aren’t living at home with your parents anymore, you are responsible for your own mess. Clean up your dirty dishes from the sink and help take the rubbish out before it starts spiralling over the bin lid. Work together to keep the house clean. If you make a mess, clean it up!
Forget the food you’ve got in the fridge and cupboards. It’s disgusting and the smell will linger for days. Get yourself familiar with the ‘use by’ dates on the pack of food tins and packets
Be passive aggressive! No one has time for games and leaving notes can often make situations worse. If something is bothering you, or someone, take them to one side and tell them calmly and directly. Most likely the issue will be resolved far quicker then over a snarky group Whatsapp message.
Smoke inside – it smells and its bad for everyone’s health. Respect your other housemates and take it outside of the house.
Lead your partner to thinking it’s their house too. Again, it’s all about respecting your housemates, and vice versa! Be a good housemate and let them know when your partner is coming up and how long for. Take it in turns to go to their place on weekends and introduce them to your housemates. It’s their house too and they have a right to know who will be coming in and out on a regular basis.
