The Iglu Guide | Blog
The golden rules of shared accommodation
Shared student housing certainly has plenty of attractions. For starters, it’s one perfect social bubble of like-minded individuals. There’ll be good times, bad times and a whole heap of fun along the way. How hard can it be? The reality is that student housemates actually come in all shapes and sizes. Some are certain to irritate, and some may become lifelong friends. To get the very best out of your shared living it helps to keep these golden rules in mind. Here’s what you need to know.
Talk to each other
Communication is possibly the most important tool you will need in a house share. For many students, this is probably the first time living away from the family home, and some may find it easier to adjust than others. Everyone reacts differently to this experience, and this can often cause tension. It’s far better to gently instigate an open conversation than overhear the disgruntled muttering behind closed doors. Be inclusive with each other and listen to alternative opinions – just having an open mind goes a long way to resolving any tension. You don’t have to be best friends, but it helps to get along amicably when you’re sharing the same space.
Be organised
Organisation and cooperation are mandatory for your toolkit when entering a student house share – which is great news for students that love a roster. Involve all housemates right from the beginning and get your planning done early, otherwise it’s the same few students doing the majority of chores for the whole household. Divide out the tasks up front alongside anything else that might be important, such as tidying up after yourself, rules around guests or managing noise levels. It helps to have a house kitty to cover off joint sundries such as loo roll, milk and cleaning products. With this agreement in place, your house share has a much better chance of running smoothly.
Respect boundaries
The freedom and fun of independent living and shared housing doesn’t mean that all rights to privacy are relinquished. Everyone has different levels of comfort and it’s really important to respect those individual boundaries. Living with other students that you may not know very well and constantly being in social company can be completely exhausting. Taking the time to recharge – and recognising when others need the same – is a lifelong skill.
Consider others
It’s actually pretty simple: treat others as you would want to be treated yourself. In shared accommodation that really boils down to respecting each other’s belongings, having consideration around noise levels, being inclusive and pulling your weight around the house. Unpopular student housemates are the ones that walk straight past an overflowing bin, move their partners in for weeks on end or chow down on any available food, regardless of who it belongs to. Mutual consideration is the golden ticket to a happy house share.
Spend time together
Shared accommodation really can be a lot of fun, after all, there could be a new best friend waiting right there in the next room. Once you have your ground rules laid out, spend some time together to get to know one another and really enjoy the best of your student accommodation. Together, you’ll navigate some formative experiences and hanging out together can make a real difference to how you operate as a household. Celebrate birthdays, cook together, organise a movie night or have a monthly pizza. Show that you’re invested and you’ll get a lot back.
