Updated with current information for 2022
You started out as best friends, but that was before they left their dishes in the sink for a month. You loved hanging out with them; now you breathe their body odor 24/7 and see them in their tighty white-ees.
Yep, the honeymoon is over.
Here are some tips for living with your roommates and still remaining friends after the lease expires.
Lay Out the Ground Rules Early
Establishing rules early on doesn’t make you the hall monitor. It’s just practical.
Lay out a few rules such as fridge boundaries, limits on late night parties, who can sleep over at the apartment, and whether the living room is zoned for after-hours.
You may also want to set from rules for CD borrowing, who can use whose computer or other devices, and who gets to control the stereo and/or TV. Take turns. Set up a calendar. Come to an understanding before it becomes a big issue.
Start a Chore Calendar
Nobody’s mother lives at the Athens apartment you are renting. If she visits, she’s not staying, so everyone should be expected to pick up. Start a chore calendar that rotates so nobody is stuck doing the grossest cleaning all year.
Encourage everyone to clean up their own messes. Make an agreement that everyone does their own dishes as soon as they hit the sink. Keep one of those scrub brushes that have a dish soap dispenser and use it after each meal.
Start a Bill Board
It’s easy for bill money to get lost in the shuffle. Start a board that says what bills need to be paid, and who has paid it. It’s best that each roommate be in charge of a particular bill so nobody gets left holding the bag.
Bigger apartments and houses mean more responsibility
If you’re renting a larger space, like a four or five bedroom home or apartment – you’re likely going to have more work cutout for you. This means taking extra care to label the additional responsibilities.
Oftentimes, these larger rentals come with yards, which are nice if you enjoy the view and spending time outside, but not nice if you are negligent about cleaning. If you leave trash outside and destroy your front or back yards, Athens Code Enforcement will find you and give you a hard time – oftentimes in the form of a fine. These fines can put a real wedge in the relationships between roommates; the blame game will get played and someone, or everyone, will need to be on the hook for the bill.
Another problem in these larger units, usually in five or six bedroom rentals, is parking.
If you’re fortunate enough to have a house with parking – great, but who parks where? Also, some spaces may block others, so how will you negotiate getting in and out when needed? These are tough questions that can be answered with honest and open communication. Talk to your roommates about establishing a communication system for moving cars and figure out early who parks where.
Bathroom hygiene
Most rentals are close to campus, so students sometimes budget very little time for both getting for and going to class, since many buildings are within walking distance. While this makes day-to-day easier for most, it can cause problems if you’re living with roommates, even if it’s just a two-bedroom unit.
The main problem is bathroom hygiene, and not in the way you think. Instead, bathroom hygiene means being aware of your roommates’ schedules and not taking long, hot showers, during the time that your roommate needs to hop in so they can make their class on time.
Again, the answer is simple. Just talk it out. If you know your roommates’ schedules, the pain can all be avoided.