Make a good first impression with these tips

Being a good housemate isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being considerate, communicative, and respectful of the people you live with.

Here are some simple ways to be a good housemate:

Communicate openly and respectfully

Good communication is the foundation of any shared living situation.  Whether it’s about cleaning, bills, or noise, being honest and respectful goes a long way. 

Make sure to not bottle things up, instead talk to your housemates about the situation early on whilst listening to their perspectives on the situation.

It's also not recommended to communicate issues over text as this can lead to miscommunication and stress, instead speak to the individual face-to-face in a neutral area away from other people. 

Clean up after yourself

It might sound obvious, but shared spaces like the kitchen and bathroom can quickly become sources of tension. 

Try to do your part to keep these spaces clean for other people to use, make sure you:

• Wash up after cooking and remove your kitchenware from the drying rack so others can use it too

• Don’t leave mess in communal areas

• Remove out-of-date food from the fridge 

• Take turns with chores or set up a rota so everyone pitches in

Respect shared spaces

Treat communal areas like you would if you were a guest in someone else’s home.

These areas are for everyone to use, so you can't treat it like your room.

Make sure to be respectful by not taking up too much time and space in the shared bathroom or kitchen, keeping noise down late at night and during exam season and being mindful of how your habits might affect others. 

Be considerate with guests

Having friends over is part of uni life, but it’s important to be respectful of your housemates’ space and routines.

If you are going to have a guest around, before they arrive let your housemates know you are having guests and what you are planning to do (e.g. is it for studying or pre-drinking etc.) so they know when and what to expect.

Keep noise to a minimum and be aware that not everyone will be okay if guests stay over. If your housemates say that they don't want you to bring someone over, respect their decision and don't go behind their back and do it anyway - it's their home as much as it is yours. 

Pay your share on time

Whether it’s rent, bills, or shared household items, make sure you’re contributing fairly and paying on time. Your housemates should not have to worry about finding money for your share of rent and bills, everyone is in the same agreement so make sure that you stick to it. 

If you want to make it easier, you can use apps like Splitwise or Monzo to track shared costs.

You might also want to have an official agreement on how you’ll split things like toilet roll or cleaning supplies so that it's fair on everyone involved. 

Be kind and inclusive

You don’t have to be best friends with your housemates, but small acts of kindness can make a big difference to everyone's university experience.

Make sure to support and include your housemates. This could look like inviting them to join you for a meal or an event, celebrating birthdays and milestones as a group and checking in on someone if they seem down. 

Respect differences

You might be living with people from different backgrounds, cultures, or lifestyles.

Embrace the opportunity to learn from each other and be open-minded and respectful. For example be willing to learn about their culture and be understanding if housemates do something you don't understand.

Meeting new people is one of the best parts of going to university, so make the most of the diversity you'll experience.