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Credit: Jacob Lund – Shutterstock
Oftentimes, your housemates at university end up as friends for life. They’re the people you begin your journey with, and might well end it with too.
To make a great first impression, it’s important to always try to be a great housemate and hopefully set an example that rubs off on others. So with that in mind, let us share some top tips to help you be the perfect flatmate.
Be sociable and friendly
Flying the nest for the first time can be exciting for some, yet daunting for others – so organising ‘together’ time is a great way of encouraging a supportive houseshare environment.
If some people don’t want to join in on house activities, that’s okay! Everyone’s different and it’s important not to take their preferences personally. And don’t forget: not everyone’s idea of fun is pre-drinking and heading on night out – so try to be as inclusive as possible with your ideas. Some of our favourites include:
- Movie nights in the flat
- Cooking dinner together
- Exploring your new city or town together
- A games night
- Group exercise or yoga
- Heading to your university events as a group.
Make friends outside of your flat
When it comes to making friends at uni, don’t put all your eggs in the house share basket. Making friends, joining societies and asking coursemates for coffee is important too.
Not only is this a great way to ease any houseshare tension, but it’ll also broaden your student network, bring friends together and make you the student that people want to know. You never know who you might meet!
Sharing and caring
Come move-in week, it’s important to lay down the rules on what items in the house are for sharing, and what isn’t.
Asking before you borrow something is also a must-do. There’s nothing worse than finding out the mayo you were about to have with your oven chips is nearly gone, and all because someone has been taking it without you knowing.
It’s also worth noting that if you need to borrow something multiple times, it may be time to nip to the shops and buy it for yourself!
Noise levels
Be mindful if you’re cooking food late or deciding to hoover early in the morning.
Investing in some trusty headphones is a must-do, so you can watch Netflix and listen to music freely without disturbing others. Remember everyone’s preferences are different – some people prefer to head to bed early, while others are night owls. So be mindful of your housemates’ routines and act respectfully.
Keeping it clean
According to the National Student Accommodation Survey, leaving dirty dishes out, not helping with cleaning and leaving food to rot are among the top annoying housemate habits.
So, to lay the foundation of being a good housemate, be sure to clean up after yourself, share chores equally and wipe your shelf of the fridge down every now and then. Many students opt for a cleaning rota to keep things fair, and putting it together could be a great way to get to know the people you’re living with too.
Respecting boundaries
Though you might be extroverted and love having someone waltz into your room for a good chitchat, others may simply prefer to keep to themselves.
If someone’s door is closed or they’re in the kitchen with headphones on, it’s more than likely that they want some time to themselves to relax, sleep or study. So bear that in mind, and get to know people’s preferences when it comes to socialising.
Collegiate UK is a dynamic operator and manager of student accommodation with over 10,800 beds in 21 cities. Working in close partnership with universities, their vision is to be the most trusted accommodation choice for students, creating environments where everyone can thrive.
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