Living with Housemates in Student Accommodation.
Choosing to live with housemates is a great experience, one advantage of this is bringing down some expenses. However, it also requires effort to maintain harmony. The key to making this work is to set boundaries and communicate clearly. Whether you’re best friends with your housemates or you’ve just met, living together positively will require setting boundaries and communicating effectively. We have put together some tips to help you navigate living with housemates.
1. Communicate Openly and Honestly
From the start, establish open lines of communication. Where possible, have conversations about habits, preferences, and expectations. Having such discussions early on helps prevent future misunderstandings.
2. Set Clear Boundaries
Generally, we all have our comfort zones and we would love these to be respected. Set clear boundaries where everyone feels comfortable in the available space. Agree on matters such as quiet hours, having guests and the usage of shared spaces and items. Clear boundaries help prevent conflicts and ensure that everyone’s needs are respected.
3. Handle Conflicts Calmly and Respectfully
In most cases, people living in the same space are bound to have conflicts occasionally. This does not mean the friendship is no more. It is important to approach the situation calmly and respectfully to avoid regrets. Discuss how certain things make each of you feel rather than pointing out the other person to be the problem as this only makes the situation worse. Remember, the goal is to find a solution, not to win an argument.
4. Be Considerate and Respectful
Living with other people calls for being mindful and respectful of each other’s space and well-being. Simple acts of consideration can go a long way. Clean up after yourself, be mindful of noise levels, and ask before inviting friends over. Show appreciation for your roommates’ efforts to keep the shared space pleasant. When everyone is considerate, it fosters a positive and respectful living environment.
5. Create a Housemate Agreement
If you’re worried about future conflicts or just want to be proactive, consider creating a housemate agreement with all involved. This can be a simple document outlining agreed-upon rules and expectations for living together. You can include things like cleaning schedules, guest policies, and shared expenses. Having an agreement can help avoid misunderstandings and provide a reference point if issues arise.
Getting along with your housemates and maintaining a healthy living environment doesn’t have to be difficult. Communicate openly, set clear boundaries, handle conflicts with respect, be considerate, and you will find that it is possible to create a positive experience.
Looking for Student Accommodation? Unihousing Can Help!
Here at Unihousing, we have some of the best properties all around Selly Oak with varying prices and sizes depending on whether you want solo or shared living.
Unihousing is a student accommodation provider near the University of Birmingham, operating since 1984. All of our accommodation in Selly Oak is owned by us, so we can respond quickly to any requests using our qualified team of tradesmen. Our property office is located on Bristol Road, only a short walk away from all of our accommodations. This means we can deal directly with our tenants.
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