With two of the University of Gloucester’s campuses being in Cheltenham, there’s quite a few houseshares in this town for students. Many people live in houseshares at the start of their careers, too and you can find a large double room in a large house for around £450pcm, with around £150 on top for bills.
If you’re about to join a houseshare, here are eight useful tips to help you to make it a success for everyone.
Keep the place tidy
If you’re sharing with a few other people then you might have different ideas about what “clean” actually means. Find a tolerable middle ground, especially for communal areas, and stick to it. You can even devise a rota for chores like mopping floors and unloading the dishwasher.
Sort out bills and other utilities
Not all houseshares have inclusive bills so if you need to pay on top for things like broadband and council tax, set up bank transfers or use an app to split bills. Make sure everyone can see due dates and who’s paid what and when – bills are a common source of friction in houseshares so getting organised will minimise this.
Keep your belongings in your room
Keeping most of your belongings in your room will help to keep communal areas tidy and clutter free. It’ll also keep them safe from theft or “borrowing”. For high-value items, a safe or locked cupboard in your room is a good idea.
Communication is key
For routine matters like cleaning rotas and general house talk, a group chat is a great idea. When it comes to anything more awkward, face-to-face talking is best so there’s no misunderstanding.
Respect everyone’s privacy
Never go into a housemate’s room if they’re out (unless you know it’s OK or you’ve asked them for permission) and always knock if their door is shut.
Keep the noise down
Don’t play loud music and keep the volume down if you’ve brought some friends back. Similarly, if your schedule is earlier or later than everyone else’s, don’t clomp about, especially if your housemates have work or exams early the next day.
Share your essentials
If you only have a small kitchen and not much storage space then it’ll save space to have only one or two sets of essentials rather than everyone bringing theirs along with them. Pots, pans, spices, milk and similar can all be pooled between you to be shared.
Choose your housemates carefully
If you’re able to vet your potential housemates before you move in together then do so because you can talk about tidiness, any potential schedule clashes or hobbies that might make life difficult. Knowing you’re likely to get along before you start living together can make a lot of difference.
