About the author: My name is George Okonkwo, and I am a Broadcast Journalist student at Nottingham Trent University. I have a passion for journalistic and literary writing and research. I also love reading, binge-watching TV shows, singing with my terrible voice, and going for walks alone or with friends.
Moving into halls as a fresher is exciting, but it also means the uncharted territory of sharing your space with a group of strangers.
Whether you’re besties by the end of term or just trying to avoid awkward encounters in the kitchen, here are the eight types of flatmates you’re likely to meet during your time in halls. By the end of the article, you should have a good idea of what type of housemate you are in a house share (for better or for worse).
This flatmate is the life of every party; they’re always suggesting Ocean, Crisis, or any night out really. Expect pres in the flat every weekend with loud music, and a new group of people each week. You’ll either love it or find yourself investing in noise-cancelling headphones.
They are always meeting new people or always know random people, introducing you to friends from other flats, societies, and sports teams. They love group activities and will always be up to hang out. They are the ones who seem like they know everybody and stop every five seconds to talk to someone. You’ll never feel lonely with this housemate around. There’s never a dull moment, and they’ll get you into the best student parties, whether that’s for St Paddy’s or even Love Island-themed. Sleep? I don’t know her.
You might wonder if this person actually lives in your flat.
They’re a master of stealth. They vanish to their room after coming back from lectures, are rarely seen in the kitchen, and always keep to themselves. You’ll occasionally bump into them doing laundry or foraging for leftovers, but they’ll disappear as quickly as they’re spotted.
The good thing about them is that there is no drama, no mess, and no fuss. Saying this, you might struggle to learn their name by the end of the year.
The kitchen is their domain, and they like things spotless. Dishes piled in the sink? They’ll leave passive-aggressive notes. Bin not emptied? They’ll remind the group chat – trust me.
You’ll either appreciate their attention to detail and planned cleaning rota or feel like you’re living with your mum all over again. They leave spaces clean, which we all love, but the struggle to reach their high standards can be real.
Unlike the Clean Freak, the Messy One thrives in chaos. Dirty dishes, half-eaten takeaway, random socks – you name it. This is their norm.
Their bedroom looks like a bombsite, but somehow, they know exactly where everything is. The kitchen and shared spaces are always a mess because of them, and they have an ability to leave dishes “soaking”, which is a classic move to avoid actually washing them. But let’s be real – we’ve all done that at some point and probably still do.
No milk? No problem, they’ll just take some of yours. Running out of washing powder? They’ll just have some of yours.
This flatmate has the magical ability to always need something from someone else but rarely replace what they take. Their infamous “can I borrow…?” will become a running joke. They are social and friendly, but you may feel like you’re running a small charity (in other words, a pain if you’re on a budget).
Whether they’re whipping up a full roast on a Wednesday night (rare) or experimenting with exotic spices, this flatmate loves to cook, and they won’t let you forget it.
Your kitchen will be filled with their gourmet creations, and you may even get invited to a meal or two if you get along. They are known to leave kitchen chaos in their wake.
Unlike the Messy One, they have the compromise of sweet treats and excellent food to cover their mountain of dishes left behind. They can be really messy. Just hope you get one that cleans up immediately after cooking.
This flatmate seems to operate on an entirely different time zone. While you’re in bed by midnight, they’re just getting started on assignments or catching up on some Netflix.
You can hear them clattering around the kitchen at 3 AM, making a snack or finishing that essay due in the morning. They might even wake you up with their late-night shenanigans. At least they’ll always be awake if you need a chat.
If you know, you know. The Bill-Evader seems to conveniently pull a Houdini act every time the utility bills are due. Or perhaps they’re a selective consumer, whether it’s “I only take two-minute showers” or “who needs the heating, anyway?”.
Suddenly you’re left with a big fat bill and are forced to pay it for them so your credit score doesn’t deplete. You’re down on cash, but every time you knock on their door, they’ve mysteriously disappeared…
No matter who you end up living with, house sharing is half the fun at uni. You’ll definitely leave with stories to tell, so make as many memories as possible. And you never know, you might end up finding housemates for second year. So, what type of housemate are you? 🙂
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Interested? Get your quote today and save yourself some housemate hassle.
The views and opinions expressed in these blogs are those of the Split The Bills Content Ambassadors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Split The Bills. Split The Bills accepts no liability for the content of these Student Blogs.
Anticipating sharing a house for the first time? Browse this round-up of the different types of housemates you’ll meet at uni to best prepare yourself!
Moved into a shared house? Browse these top tips on how to make a student house look homely on a budget.
Everyone’s finances look different, but I thought I’d share a realistic look at the kinds of things I spend money on in a typical week as a graduate.