Shared living has become one of the most popular ways for young working professionals to live affordably in London.
But with the last two years being filled with endless lockdowns, new work from home cultures and quarantines, everyone has been spending a lot more time at home, which when living in shared accommodation could easily lead to housemate tension and frustrations.
Below are our top four tips for navigating this new normal we find ourselves in, especially when living in a shared accommodation.
1. Communication is key
One of the main ingredients for any good relationship is communication. If, as a unit, you have decided the basic house rules from the beginning, it will save a lot of time and disagreements. Get to know your housemates as well as you can, it takes all types to make up the world and the better you know the people you live with the better you will be able to live in a way which doesn’t negatively affect them.
COVID has also made us far less social, with a lot more time spent alone, so it might take some getting used to compromising for other people. However, there are very few disagreements that can’t be sorted out through a conversation, so make it a priority if something is upsetting you, to sit down with your flatmates and express it.
2. More is not always merrier
It is important to remember that you live in a house full of other people, it is not your own private space. Always ask your housemates permission, or at least give them a heads up, when inviting over guests. You also need to keep in mind that not everyone will feel comfortable with house guests over due to COVID. You owe it to your housemates to be mindful of who you invite over.
Everyone is also on a different schedule, and your housemates who have early starts for work do not want to be kept up until all hours because you have decided to host a party. But also remember, what goes around comes around, and next time you need silence in the house you can request it. Be considerate of one another and make sure to take responsibility for your guests, if they behave inappropriately or break something it is on you to fix the situation.
3. As clean as a whistle
One of the biggest causes of inter-housemate arguments is cleaning and keeping the house tidy. The bottom line here is that everyone has to pull their weight and make sure they are doing their part in keeping the house clean. One recommendation we have is to create a cleaning roster for you and your housemates. Split up the various cleaning duties and give each member a different job to complete every week. Clean up after yourself when using any of the communal spaces and do not leave any of your personal mess for others to tidy.
A lot of cleanliness also just comes from common sense, if the dishwasher has just finished running and you are there, unpack it. The cleanliness of your house is more important than ever before due to COVID, you need to make extra sure that you keep communal spaces clean and sanitised.
4. R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Ultimately, the main thing when it comes to sharing a living space with someone is respect. As flatmates you need to respect one another, one another’s space and belongings. It is important to acknowledge that your housemates have different work, sleep, and relax schedules than you, try your best to compromise and create an environment where everyone’s busy schedules can co-exist.
It is also vital to respect your flatmates views surrounding COVID. If they are extra cautious and like things to be sanitised after use/to keep outside guests to a minimum, that is something you will need to consider and talk to them about. When it comes to communal spaces such as the bathrooms or kitchen, be mindful of how much time you spend using them. It might even be helpful to make a roster that gives each person a certain amount of time in the morning/evening to ensure that no one is late for work etc.
Remember that you deserve as much respect as you give out, therefore, if you feel one of your housemates is taking advantage of your kindness, sit them down and talk it out.