When in Rome… 8 Important Tips for Moving to a Sharehouse

photo by Memphis CVB

A sharehouse is an environment where you are sharing your living space with other people, so naturally there are a few things you need to be pay attention to in order to have a good relationship with your housemates. Of course, things differ depending on each individual sharehouse, but the basics are more or less the same everywhere. So let’s have a look at exactly what you need to be careful about when moving to a new sharehouse!

New to a Sharehouse? Keep these 9 points in mind!

1. Common Space Cleaning and Garbage Disposal

If you are moving to a sharehouse with a cleaning and garbage disposal duty system, make sure to be responsible and do your part at the right time. You might think that in a house with many people, it’s not a big deal if you skip your duty just once – but that might actually make your housemates loose faith in you! Make sure to gain each other’s trust and build a relationship where you can help each other out when needed.

2. Clean up after yourself

Of course, the kitchen, bathroom and toilets get dirty when you use them. Remember to tidy and clean up after yourself after using the facilities, so your housemates can use them comfortably after you. Coming across used and abandoned dishes or kitchen utensils just when you were about to cook your dinner is something that happens a lot in sharehouses. But it’s not a nice thing to do, right?

3. Use resources mindfully

Apart from the rent, you have to pay for the house’s utility fees every month. These include electricity, gas, water and internet, as well as the common goods used by everyone in the house. If you keep wasting resources and using too much of it, it eventually results in everyone’s rent price going up, so this is a strict no go. Turning off the AC, light, and other electronics after using them is mandatory as well as saving water, using the common goods in a responsible way and keeping your private things in your own room – the basics of living together with others. Nobody wants to be the reason everyone’s rent went up!

4. Mind the noise

In a sharehouse, your and your housemate’s daily rhythm might be very different. This is why things like partying in the living room, playing instruments in your room and talking loudly on the phone might lead to trouble with your share mates. On the other hand, sometimes you want to live a little, right? You are living in a sharehouse after all! But in that case, make sure to get your housemate’s agreement and to not leave anyone out.

5. Compromise

As the common facilities are limited, it’s a total no go to overly occupy the kitchen, showers, washing machine or dryer all by yourself. Many people start doing their laundry, and leave the house without taking their laundry back out. But think about it: wouldn’t it be an uncomfortable situation finding the washing machine full of your housemate’s clothes when you were just about to wash your own? The best solution would be to stay home until your laundry is done, but in emergency cases, make sure to be considerate and write your housemates a note: “Feel free to take my laundry out and back in the basket once it’s done!”

6. Keep your belongings in your room

Don’t leave your personal things in the common rooms, but store them in your designated space or your room. If one person starts leaving things in the living room, others will follow and finally, the house will turn more and more into chaos. It’s important to do your part in keeping the house in a clean state.

7. Basic communication: “good morning”, and “welcome back”

The common space is where you can get in contact with our housemates. When you meet one of them, remember to do some of the basic communication such as “good morning”, “welcome back” or “how are you?” When living in a sharehouse, make the most of it and enjoy communicating with your housemates!

8. Appreciate cultural differences

A sharehouse is a place where housemates of diverse nationalities, genders and ages live together under one roof. If your housemates come from a different country as you, their cultural background is different, and if they are from a different age group, they might have different moral values or ways of thinking. The most important things is embracing and appreciating each other’s differences. Your behavior will reflect in the manner of others – if you respect them, they will surely respect you in return.

The Golden Rule: being considerate

When it comes to live in a sharehouse, the most important thing of all is being respectful and considerate of your housemates. They will appreciate it, no doubt, and do the same for you in return. When people are nice to you, it just naturally makes you willing to be nice to them too! Enjoy your sharehouse life with the motto “One For All, All For One”, and make unforgettable memories.