Harmony at home is what everyone dreams of when they move in together, and for the most part, we’re sure that’s what you have. If you’ve moved in with friends or your partner, it’s safe to assume you get along and have things in common, while if you’ve moved in with strangers, the chances are you’ll all be professionals and know how to live with other people.
However…
Sometimes things don’t go to plan, and there can be occasional disagreements. Here are some of the most common housemate arguments, as well as a few ways you can go about resolving them.
You’d be surprised at how messy the milk situation can get. If you share food with your housemates, it’s inevitable that eventually you’ll run out of milk – a nightmare for the next person who fancies a cup of tea or some cereal. Fingers will soon get pointed – “It was your turn to get it! I got it last time!” and before you know it, you’ll be crying over there being no milk to spill.
Fear not, there’s a way to solve it, and it’s a method as old as time: a shopping list. If you spot something running out, whether it’s milk, toothpaste, or toilet paper (trust us, you don’t want to fall out over that one), jot it down and store the list in a communal space. Sticking it on the fridge is a good option. That way, everyone can see where you’re at, making it a joint responsibility to keep supplies stocked up.
No one enjoys taking the bins out, but do you know what you’ll enjoy even less? Maggots. When bins overflow, they attract pests, and before you know it, your house stinks and there are flies everywhere. The best way to solve this is to take it in turns. Keep track of who did it last and make sure everyone’s on board with the rotation.
But if you can clearly see the bin is overflowing, don’t be petty. Just pick it up and take it out and accept you’re the better person.
There’s always one flatmate who spends that little bit too long in the bathroom, which can get very annoying very quickly if you’re waiting to brush your teeth before bed or before heading out for an early lecture.
If a flatmate’s bathroom habits are starting to get to you, have a quick word with them or discuss an appropriate schedule that you can follow.
@split_the_bills I don't have the energy for this 😩 AD #uni #university #unistudent #unilife #unihouse
♬ original sound - Split The Bills
That pile of dishes won’t wash itself, as hard as we might wish. The worst part of eating is the washing up that follows, but someone has to do it. As a general rule of thumb, if someone is cooking for you, you should do the washing up, and if you’re cooking for yourself, you should wash up after. If one of your housemates isn’t playing by those rules, make it clear to them that their pots won’t get washed by someone else.
To make the process that much quicker, one of you could wash, the other could dry, and if you’ve got a third person, they could put things away like a beautiful washing-up machine.
Not all of your housemates’ friends (or boyfriends or girlfriends) will end up becoming your friends, and there’s always that one who you just can’t get on with. If you find they’re coming over too often for your liking, or staying on the sofa when you’ve got work the next morning, it’s time for a serious conversation. While we don’t recommend expressing how much you can’t stand their friend or partner, you can suggest certain days of the week where social activities can’t go on too late, or recommend they spend time out of the house instead.
This one’s a particularly sore point if you’re trying to work from home and you’ve got a friend-of-a-friend asleep on the living room sofa while you’re trying to do a meeting.
In this age of streaming and video on demand, the days of everyone sharing one TV are pretty much over. But if you’ve got plans to get some mates round and watch the football or your favourite film, watching it on the big telly feels a bit different to watching it on your phone.
You should let your housemates know long in advance that this is what’s going on, and maybe even invite them along to the fun. This makes it clear in everyone’s calendar what the main TV is being used for that night, and leaves them free to watch whatever they want in the comfort of their own rooms.
@split_the_bills Pls wash up after yourself x 🧼 #unikitchen #cleantok #splitthebills #splitthechores
♬ original sound - Split The Bills
Ah, the classic night owl vs early bird dispute. If you’re all on different schedules, noise levels can become a problem if one housemate stumbles in loudly after a night out at 3 AM and another housemate, who has a 9 AM seminar, is disturbed.
Try to be respectful of who you’re sharing a wall with and invest in a good pair of headphones and earplugs! Additionally, make sure you communicate with your housemates if you have to be up early the next day or if you intend on having a late night.
There’s nothing worse than coming to make one of your cheap and easy student meals and then realising that someone has nicked half of your ingredients. This could turn into a full-blown food-stealing war if you aren’t careful, so be sure to label your food and have a word with your housemate if the incident happens again. Communication is key here.
If this still doesn’t work, check with your landlord if you are allowed a mini fridge in your room. Regardless, you can keep cupboard food out of harm’s way in your bedroom.
It’s not the nicest experience to come back to a messy kitchen, living room, and bathroom, but if you’re sharing with an untidy flatmate, the chances are that the tensions could rise here.
It might be worth creating a cleaning rota, so everyone takes on their fair share of cleaning and tidying up. Some rented houses even come with a cleaner, which takes this problem out of your hands.
Think soap, toilet roll, washing up sponges, and bleach. Is this cost always left with one responsible flatmate? If it is, resentment can build up, and arguments may spark. To avoid this, lay out some ground rules about splitting communal costs early on or create a shopping rota. Simple!
You knew it was coming, didn’t you? Household bills are a common cause of housemate disagreements – the chances are some people will say they’re too busy or disorganised to talk about things like ‘utilities’ or ‘rent’, putting all the responsibility onto one housemate. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
With Split The Bills, you can quickly and easily make sure everyone is paying their fair share with just a few clicks on your screen. There’s no need to sit around the dining table and do the maths – we’ll take care of everything for you, leaving you with one less thing to fall out about.
Ready to kick those common housemate arguments about bills to the curb? Contact us with any questions you have or request a quick quote today!
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