Communal living

For some people communal living is one of the most rewarding experiences associated with being a student, however for some the situation can become difficult. The best way to make sure you enjoy sharing a house is to ensure that there is mutual respect and understanding between yourself and your housemates.

The following tips are a few simple ways in which you can show respect to your housemates as well as other local residents:

·          Don’t play loud music late at night

·          Take care not to cause unnecessary noise or disturbance when leaving your room or property late at night  - or, perhaps more importantly, early in the morning when you’re coming back in again!

·          Clear up when you have finished cooking and eating

·          Check with housemates before inviting friends around

You are most likely to enjoy communal living if you and your housemates agree to clear guidelines about household responsibilities such as cleaning and paying bills.  A cleaning rota is a good way to make sure that tasks are shared out fairly, and it is advisable to make sure that all the tenants names appear on any utility bills so that everyone is liable for payment.