House Sharing Etiquette: 9 Tips for Living in a House Share in 2021
Shared accommodation or house sharing is no longer something only college students endure for a few years. Living and sharing with housemates can be the best of times or can be the worst of times, and you actually never know until you move in.
You may be sharing your house or flat with other professionals, your friends or with your partner. You may have been close friends for several years, but take the plunge & move in together and you might find you never truly knew them at all! Below are some tips you can follow to keep your house share amicable.
1. Keep the Property Tidy
Cleanliness is subjective & we all have dissimilar ideas of what ‘cleanliness’ means. It is great to share with housemates that have quite similar standards to you. If this is not possible, then you may try to compromise.
You should set a few house sharing rules in the flat at the start of the tenancy agreement, like keeping communal areas (such as kitchen, living room, bathroom, etc.) clean & tidy.
Everyone living in the house must agree to clean up after themselves, especially in the kitchen, and dirty cooking pots should never be left to fester.
2. Be Polite
As with any situation, good communication is vital when living in a shared house. Common courtesy and polite behavior is an absolute must, especially during these (covid-19) times. So, make sure you respect your housemate’ space.
You would also be amazed at how simple things like “please & thank you” can get lost in everyday hustle & bustle, and the difference these things can make in establishing a comfortable house atmosphere.
3. Get Your House Bills and Utilities in Order
When you move in, make an agreement with your housemates on how house bills will be paid & split between everyone, as this is one of the major causes of arguments. You can set up bank transfers to cover your monthly outgoings that’re your responsibility, and keep a simple record of what’s been agreed with every individual when it comes to making payments.
Alternatively, you can download an Android or iOS app that helps you all to access and track your expenses by logging in from your phone.
4. Share the Essentials
It’s a good thought to band together with all of your housemates and put some money towards kitchen basics like pots and pans, kitchen condiments, spices, and the dairy products to save you all over-buying.
Each single month, you and your housemates can agree on what needs to be replaced and can put money in a pot to ensure that those essentials are restored going forward.
5. Ask Before You Borrow
Another self-explanatory house sharing rule, but definitely worth mentioning nevertheless. This is one of the most crucial rules of living in a shared space and it has never been more essential to respect people’s boundaries.
If there is something your housemate’s you would like to use, like a little butter or milk, you must ask them. As they may not feel comfortable with you touching their things. If they don’t mind, be sure to be extra respectful & wash your hands beforehand.
6. Communicate with Your Housemates
Have an established technique of communication to discuss certain house or flat matters, for such as, a Facebook or a WhatsApp group.
If you have any problem to raise, however, the best possible thing to do would be to communicate face-to-face with your housemates, so that it can get resolved swiftly.
If you have not yet developed a social friendly relationship with your housemates, a simple “Thank you” and polite conversation can establish a good comfortable atmosphere for everyone.
7. Buy in Bulk
Try to buy essentials in bulk. We surely didn’t mean to ransack the toilet roll aisle, but just try to minimise the number of times you all go to the grocery store.
If you know your housemates before moving in to any shared accommodation, then try to coordinate the purchasing of goods, like dishes, cleaning supplies, and even – if you get along pretty well – milk, butter, & other basics can easily be shared.
Just be sure to keep the track of all the expenses and be sure of what the house agrees to share and what individuals would rather buy themselves.
8. Choose Your Housemates Carefully
If you have the luxury of selecting your housemates, think extra carefully before you agree to move in with someone & consider whether you could potentially clash on any stuff like smoking, or obsessive tidiness or having some sort of conflicting work schedules.
Be honest about your lifestyle & needs when talking to prospective flatmates as it’ll be a much more enjoyable experience living with individuals you get on with.
9. Be Open-Minded and Flexible
Living in a shared house is a great experience and exposes you to several cultures and experiences. Every individual is unique & different in shared accommodation. Living in close quarters with anybody will definitely bring challenges and hardships without being in a pandemic. But try to embrace all the differences & opportunities this offers, rather than getting caught up in everyday hassles.