Living with housemates is a wild ride. One day, you’re all besties binge-watching Netflix and ordering takeaway together. The next, you’re side-eyeing someone for leaving their dirty dishes in the sink for the third day in a row.
Sound familiar?
Sharing life with other people can be amazing, but it’s also got its fair share of why is this happening to me? moments. So, how do you make it through (and even thrive) on shared living without losing your mind?
Here’s your ultimate guide to maintaining the peace and avoiding flatmate drama-free.
Establish House Rules Early (Before Things Get Messy – Literally)
Nobody wants to be “that person”—yapping about clean-up, shelf space, or decibel level. But seriously, setting some basic ground rules at the beginning will save everyone tons of stress.
Have “the talk” during week one – Get out some snacks, have a seat with your housemates, and just discuss expectations. Is everybody good with sharing milk? Do we take turns at cleaning the bathroom? Is it okay having mates over week days?
Get the big things sorted before they become a problem – Who’s taking out the bins? What do you do when the toilet paper disappears? If you speak up early, you won’t have to send passive-aggressive notes later.
Chill out – No one wants to hear rules that are like a death sentence. A simple “Hey, let’s just make sure we don’t have to live in a disaster zone” is enough.
Cleaning: The Friendship Test
There are two kinds of people in this world:
Those who clean along the way.
Those who follow “let it soak” (for days).
If you don’t wish to have your kitchen look like a crime scene, get a cleaning rota up and running ASAP.
The rota system – Everyone does one job per week. Simple, fair, and no moaning.
The “clean as you go” rule – If you’ve used it, clean it. No excuses.
The free-for-all system – No rules, just vibes. (Warning: not recommended unless you enjoy mystery smells.)
If you’re always the cleaning fairy with your flatmates living their best lives in dirty neglect, don’t be a silent sufferer—voice your opinion. A polite, “Hey, let’s get all of us contributing,” is better than stifling your rage until you explode when there’s a pile of dirty dishes staring you in the face.
Noise Levels: Not Everyone Wants Your 2 AM Karaoke Sesh
We all have different schedules. Some of us are night owls. Some of us are early birds. And some of us seem to think that their bedroom is a nightclub.
To keep the peace:
Negotiate “quiet hours” – Especially when there are exams. No one wants to hear drum and bass at 3 AM.
Invest in headphones – Your housemates don’t need to hear your guilty-pleasure playlist blasting.
Say it – If you’re hosting a party, let people know. A single “Hey, I’ve got mates over” text works magic. Bonus points if you invite your housemates!
The Great Food Debate: Hands Off My Leftovers!
Nothing is more frustrating than opening the fridge to discover that your delicious takeaway leftovers have disappeared.
Golden rule: If it’s not yours, don’t eat it.
Label your food – A simple sticky note with your name will work just fine.
Consider a communal shelf – Some basics (milk, butter, bread) could be communal to avoid unnecessary drama.
But come on—there will be food stealing at some point. If so, don’t open a full-scale investigation. Just do a quick, “Hey guys, my [insert missing snack here] vanished—let’s just check that we’re not stealing from one another.”
Or, if you want to get creative, put a sticky note with the words, “I licked this.”
When Drama Strikes, How to Deal with Problems Without Losing Your Mind
Even the best housemates will make you mad eventually. Someone will leave their washing in the machine all day long. Someone won’t recall that it’s their turn to take out the bins. It occurs.
The secret? Fix it before it snowballs into an all-out Cold War.
Chat it out – Five minutes of chat is worth more than weeks of bottled-up bitterness.
Be humorous – “Great, I love the creative dish pile in the sink, but maybe we can attempt to wash them?”
Pick your battles – Is it worth it to fight over a missing spoon? (Answer: No.)
And if everything else is not working, just remember—headphones, deep breaths, and countdowns to lease end date are there for a reason.
Final Thoughts: Make the Most of It!
Living with housemates isn’t just about avoiding fights over the washing up. It’s also about making memories, having spontaneous deep chats in the kitchen, and laughing at each other’s weird habits.
So be considerate. Clean up after yourself. Don’t steal food. And when in doubt—bribe your housemates with snacks.