Last updated: January 2026
When you move into shared accommodation with strangers, it can be scary. Even though most enjoy the experience and make friends for life, a clash of vibes can lead to rows. To put these worries to rest, we’ve put together some helpful tips to help you get along with your housemates and dodge the drama.
1. Bring something to share
When you first move into your house share, be sure to bring something you can share with your flatmates. Food is always the best bet, such as a big tub of chocolates or some baked goods. Bonus points if you can cook or bake something from scratch. It is a great way to strike up conversations and get housemates on your side from day one!
2. Set the ground rules for plus ones
We’ve all been there – the partner who basically lives in your house but doesn’t contribute toward the utility bills. It’s worth having a quick chat with your housemates and establishing some rules around guests.
Establishing these rules early on will ensure that everyone is on the same page, stopping resentment before it builds. This will help you keep a solid relationship with your housemates!
3. Set privacy boundaries
Being thrown into a group of new people can be overwhelming, and it is perfectly acceptable to want your own space. To make sure you feel chilled around your housemates, have a lock on your bedroom door; if not, ask the landlord to fit one.
It’s best to set ground rules straight away, so as soon as you move in, be sure to ask everyone to knock before entering your room. If you have a communal bathroom, it might also be worth sorting a schedule to avoid any embarrassing moments.
4. Have a cleaning rota
Arguments can break out due to disagreements about cleaning. There’s usually that one person who leaves their dirty dishes in the sink until mould takes over, and someone who ends up picking up all of the slack. You can usually avoid this by setting up a simple cleaning rota to ensure everyone puts in their fair share.
6. Plan weekly food shops and group meals
Doing group supermarket shops and batch-meal cooking is a great way to save time and keep the house social. If you decide to cook and shop separately, it might be useful to chat about who gets access to the kitchen at certain times, so you aren’t all tripping over each other.
7. Plan some fun activities
A great way to get along with your housemates is to bond over something fun. You could plan a café trip, a gym sesh, a games night, or an evening with a particular society – whatever takes your fancy. Getting a chat going over an activity provides a perfect way to get to know each other better (and hopefully get along!).
And don’t think your plans have to break the bank. There are many ways to stay on budget while having fun. For example, instead of spending a fortune in an expensive cocktail bar, you could all have some good old-fashioned pre-drinks!* Plus, some of these student discounts might give you a few ideas!
*Split The Bills promotes responsible drinking. Alcohol products are for ages 18+ only.
8. Consider everyone’s schedules
You might be living with people you wouldn’t normally socialise with, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But it’s extremely irritating if their noise disrupts your sleep. If not dealt with quickly, it can lead to a tense vibe, which could turn into a heated argument. Just by being honest about your feelings, the situation could be swiftly sorted.
If you have conflicting schedules – maybe some of the house are coming home in the early hours because they do shift work to pay for their course – it might be useful to invest in some earplugs.
9. Be respectful
It sounds obvious, but respecting your housemates and their stuff will go a long way. The last thing you want is to become the person who is always stealing everyone’s food in the middle of the night and using their pots and pans without asking. Anybody doing this will quickly build a reputation as inconsiderate, which will most likely lead to an uncomfortable living situation. Setting clear boundaries at the beginning is the best way to make sure everyone respects each other.
10. Split your bills equally
If you have only lived with family before becoming a student, sorting your own bills can be a massive shock to the system. To avoid paying too much or getting hit with a surprise cost, you’ve got to read the fine print when researching the utility companies you might use.
Calculating how much everybody owes is a total headache, and you don’t want to be the one chasing your friends for money. We’ll do the hard work for you. We bundle and split easily, turning your water, broadband, energy, and more into one simple monthly payment for each person. No more hassle.
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