Why Always Me? How to Split Responsibilities in a House Share

List the responsibilities

You might not be aware of just how much you do for the house, and your housemates might not know either. That’s where a list can be handy. Write down everything you do to clean the house and how often you do it, and talk it through with the house. That way, they can see just how busy you are, and if they’re decent humans, can offer to do some of the jobs themselves. If you’re feeling more passive-aggressive than that, just stick the list up in a communal area and circle the jobs in a red marker. Sorted!

Make a rota

Knowing when certain jobs need to be done, and whose turn it is to do them, is a key part of sharing household responsibilities. Do the bins always go out on a Tuesday? Write it down and stick some names next to it. Could the bathroom do with a monthly clean? The same rules apply. A cleaning rota can help keep people accountable, and if you all agree to follow it up-front, there’s no excuse for missing your turn.

To make it more interesting, turn it into a game: if someone misses their turn, they have to buy the next round of takeaways. Seems only fair.

Hold a meeting (with snacks)

Ok, maybe don’t call it a meeting, because that immediately puts people off. But if you get all your housemates around a table, order a pizza or grab some coffee, you can discuss the jobs that need doing and ensure everyone is on the same page. Keep it casual: “The following jobs need doing around the house. Who wants to do what?” Just making these things part of a normal, chatty conversation can take the pressure off the situation and makes everyone feel equally responsible.

(And if there is tension, check out our guide on resolving common house share arguments.)