University is a wonderful opportunity to meet and live with new people, a true cross-section of the human spectrum, it just so happens that you’ll probably think some of these people are dicks.
In the role of housemate, you’ll either notice this straight away, or after months of hellish co-existence. But here’s the rub, YOU could be a dick housemate without even knowing it.
Rest assured though, follow these rules and you might just avoid spending your time at Staffs in a deeply uncomfortable living situation…
THE KITCHEN
The kitchen is the most volatile of all the rooms. It’s almost guaranteed to be the no-man’s land in any inter-house/flat disputes, as the shared space where each person keeps their precious, precious food.
People have all sorts of boundaries, or lack thereof, when it comes to food: some would think the block of extra-mature cheddar sat unassumingly in the fridge is fair game, or fair game in the event of a cheese shortage, or more than likely completely untouchable. The best thing to do is assume the latter option unless told otherwise, establishing your own preference without going overboard and making yourself out as some sort of fridge fascist. The same applies to the freezer and cupboards.
Pro tip: if you've got some high value items, like a multi-pack of Monster Munch, keep them in your room to avoid pilfering.
The kitchen is also the hardest place to keep clean, but cleaning deserves a section of its own...
THE BATHROOM
Unless you’re in an en-suite situation, you’re going to have to deal with the ins-and-outs of sharing a bathroom with other students.
It’s a bit more straightforward than the kitchen, but can still be points of contention.
If you’re getting up at the same time as someone, whether it’s for work or lectures, don’t spend ages in the shower as it could put their entire morning in disarray. Plus, if you’ve got an older boiler, it could leave them without any hot water, which is a quickfire way to make enemies.
And once more, just keep it clean…
CLEANING
First off, recognise the difference between clean and tidy.
Clean, adj: free of dirt, marks or stains.
Tidy, adj: arranged neatly and in order.
Most people, if they had to choose, prefer clean to tidy, so as a general rule: a few clothes strewn over the place is forgivable,
jam smeared on the kitchen counters isn’t. One has priority.
When it comes to dishes, the consensus among the student population is that you deal with your own stuff, unless one of your housemates is feeling extra generous, and that leaving them “to soak” (usually with no intention of going near them for a considerable amount of time) is just how things are done. All you can ask of yourself is that you give it a try before mould starts popping up.
Most importantly, delegate cleaning responsibilities every week or so and don’t forget the rotate them regularly, or everyone will start hating the jammy sod who always gets the easy hoovering job.
OTHER GENERAL TIPS
> Don’t forget food in the oven; being drunk isn’t an excuse. There’s no better way to wind up your housemates than burning the building down.
> Doing a collective food shop might seem like a good idea in the beginning, but it’ll cause trouble unless you’re a VERY close-knit bunch.
> Unless you’re all in on the action, be careful with noise. While you’re all pre-drinking, someone might be trying to catch some sleep before an exam or early-morning lecture.
Really, all of these boil down to being a decent human being who’s mindful of others. Do that and those weird, new housemates could turn out to be your friends for life.