Tips For Living With A Roomate
Communication is crucial when co-habiting together with roommates. Knowing when to choose your battles is also essential.
There will be conflict when more than one person shares a living area. Many things could go wrong: dirty socks on the floor, empty milk jugs in your fridge, lights on all night. The coworker you like at work might be quite different from a roommate. It is essential to be able to manage both good and bad roommates. Here are some tips:
Expect Great Things
It is a good idea for roommates to agree on rules. You should cover all aspects of your daily life, from morning routines to kitchen cleanups. These are things:
What is your policy regarding overnight guests?
Who picks up the trash?
Your dog is welcome to sleep on the couch with you.
Who ensures that the landlord is paid?
Who gets the first chance to take a shower each morning?
Consider the first few weeks together as an indicator of your plans. For example, you don't have to throw a big housewarming party if you aren't into large parties.
Organize Meetings
Although it may seem silly, regular house meetings are a great way for everyone to set rules and keep them in place. Establish guidelines for shared spaces such as the kitchen, bathrooms, and living rooms and open communication about any problems. All rules are acceptable, provided you agree to them all in advance. Even though it may sound like a lot, having these details written down can save everyone a lot of hassle later; you can even write them on a chalkboard, which makes it easy for everyone to see.
Please Communicate Your Concerns
There will be problems. It will save you many headaches by keeping the lines of communication open. You can bring up any issue within reason, but you should always be diplomatic. Remember the golden rule: Treat your roommates as you would want them to treat you. Remember that not everyone is going to be treated the same way. You might roll your towels while she folds them. Some things aren't worth fighting for.
Share Your Knowledge
This may be your first-time co-living with someone other than your family. You can approach the matter in a calm manner and not assume that it is intentional. It's possible that you're not the ideal roommate all the time. Technology can make things more complicated. Do you have a roommate who is always using Wi-Fi to hog your network? Here are some tips to help with this common problem.
If All Else Fails
When things get tense with roommates, the stakes can be high. It is very little you can do if your roommate is still on the rental agreement. Your roommates may also be responsible for the rent. If a roommate leaves, they would have to pay the remainder—another reason to settle disputes.
There are several different legal scenarios regarding renters' rights when cohabiting. To ensure everyone is clear about what to expect, do your research and determine if it is possible to draft a roommate agreement.
Remember that your rental agreement is usually a one-for-all deal. The landlord may evict your entire lease if you or your roommate violates any policy or law. If your roommate is not following the rules, you may lose your place to live.
