5 Main Rules for Living Together

1. Define Your Personal Space

Even if you're renting a studio, each person should have their own corner. It could be a desk, a reading chair, or a separate shelf in the bathroom. Even the most extroverted person sometimes needs to be alone and have personal space. Agree that others can only enter your bedroom by invitation, or that if you're at the sewing machine, you shouldn't be disturbed.

2. Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

You should have your own interests, other friends, and personal secrets. Because one terrible (or wonderful) day, your neighbors might want to move out. To avoid stress, always have a Plan B. It could be a kind aunt who can take you in, or a friend ready to drop by if your flatmates suddenly change their mind.

3. Distribute Responsibilities

No matter how long you've been friends, you should find out your future roommate's work schedule, cooking and cleaning routines they're used to, and how you see shared life in general. Shopping for groceries and cleaning supplies, laundry, dishwashing, time in the shared bathroom - all of this should be discussed in advance to avoid hurtful disagreements.

4. Respect Each Other

Leave common areas (kitchen, bathroom, hallway) in the same condition as they were before you. Important! Not necessarily spotless and orderly, but as you found them. Clean up after yourself, but don't clean for others. If you see a sink full of dirty dishes, just leave. Once you start cleaning up after someone, you’ll keep doing it until you move out. Your roommates should respect you.

5. Handle the Money Matters

It’s easy to let it slide, but you probably won’t like loading the fridge with groceries or running into empty detergent again. Whether you pay utilities and plumbing in turns or split the costs, it doesn’t matter, but a clear rule on this should exist. If your friend keeps taking shampoo that she was supposed to buy last month, it’s time to raise the alarm.