How To Choose Your Flatmates?

In your first year at university, you’ll likely live in a student residence on campus. You often don’t choose exactly who you share with in halls, although requests can be made, so you end up stuck with people you don’t particularly like for an entire year. After that first year, many students look to move further afield and become student tenants in a shared property, giving you the added benefit of being able to choose your housemates.

Moving into a rental property near the university is a great alternative to living in halls because you gain that extra degree of independence. However, with it can come a host of problems – bad flatmates being the number one headache for student tenants. Take a look at this blog post to discover some steps to choosing your perfect flatmate.

1. Try To Move In With a Group Of Close Friends

If you already have a connection with people on your course or from student halls and have found you can get on well with them, then consider having them as your flatmates when you rent accommodation in the second and third years of your studies.

Having a strong support network can really help when the work gets tough at university. And what better way to capitalise on that than by living with those you know and trust? You’ll always have a friendly face around and someone to turn to.

2. Don’t Choose Your Flatmate Based On Physical Attraction

If you are attracted to a certain boy or girl and they offer their place to stay, try not to make that the ultimate decider. Romantic or sexual attraction is not always the best factor in choosing housemates; in fact, it can lead to all kinds of trouble in the long run.

University is certainly a time to make friends and have relationships. But you are mainly at university to study and living with a potential partner can be a huge distraction, whether it is going well or not. Take some time to consider if this is the right option. You will be spending a lot of time in the same living space with this person and whether you end up together or not should not determine how happy you are in your living arrangements.

Remember, you can’t simply move after a few months if things don’t go the way you would like. Rental agreements tend to be for the whole university year, and it is hard to swap and change midway through.

3. Find Someone With Similar Priorities To You

You may like someone who’s adventurous and has a wild spirit that may draw you into living with them in the thought that it will be ‘fun’. However, that fun soon stops when this free spirit likes to leave the kitchen a mess after eating or has an aversion to bleach and cleaning the bathroom after themselves.

Finding housemates who take their studies seriously like you is a great way to ensure you stay on top of things and don’t get distracted. If you are a person who likes to keep a tidy home then having housemates who thrive in clutter can leave you feeling frustrated at always being the one to tidy up.

It is a good idea to ask questions about how your prospective housemates like to live. Do they like to party every weekend? Do they hold late-night study sessions regularly? Is a chores rota something that they would be averse to? Questions like this can help you to make an informed decision early on and not live to regret moving in with someone who does not share values with you. Variety is a good thing in housemates, but not if you don’t agree or compliment each other on the fundamentals.

4. Start Your Search Early

Before you even finish the first year, start making plans in advance about where you are going to live and with whom. The last thing you want is a last-minute rush with the nearest available tenancy just so you have somewhere to stay. Search listings well before your course starts again for the best possible choice of flatmates.

There are lots of resources available for this task. The Student Union at your university might have a section designed to assist with this or a forum that can help you. Websites designed for students to find housemates are also available, so don’t be put off if you haven’t met anyone you think you can live with during your first year of study. These sites are designed to help you solve that problem.

Starting early will also mean you have time to scope out the best places to live. Accommodation off campus will fill up fast, it is always a good idea to look early and start viewing prospective places to live as early as you can.

5. Keep Finances in Mind

You may have a part-time job to help you cover the cost of essentials. However, your flatmate might just wing it on student loans to get by. This can prove troublesome when it comes to paying rent and getting shopping in.

Don’t be shy to ask about prospective housemates’ financial situation before moving in.

Student finances can be a big stressor and in worst cases can lead to students dropping out. Think hard about the finances of your prospective flatmates and whether you think there will be equal contribution to utility and food bills.

Whether you found that ideal friend during a college open day or whether you have grown a great friendship throughout your studies, choose someone who you click with and who ‘gets’ you when it comes to finding a flatmate. After all, you’ll be living with this person or these people for a year or more.

You can always use Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to source your new flatmates, allowing you to scan the situation before leaping.

Read this to learn how to make The Most Out Of A University Open Day!

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