Rental prices are steadily rising in the United States. For many people, sharing a room or a house with others has become a way to afford these increases. Statistics say that 79 million adults in the U.S. live in shared households. Some people stay with other family members, while others live with friends or even strangers. This shared living arrangement, also called “doubling up,” is the practice of sharing a home; be it an apartment or house. It’s common for students, people who live on their own, or anyone who’s looking to save some money and doesn’t mind sharing their space.
Note: Of course, if you’re thinking about getting a roommate and you’re currently renting, you’ll want to ask your landlord first. Not all landlords allow roommates. This is something that you’ll need to get their approval on first.
What Are the Benefits of Living With Roommates?
Aside from the financial benefits of living with roommates, there are also other advantages. These include the following:
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Roommates can provide emotional support during challenging times. You can turn to them for advice, encouragement, and companionship.
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Living with roommates helps you expand your perspectives, see other people’s points of view, and even discover new practices and cultures.
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House chores and other responsibilities can be shared, saving everyone time and reducing individual workloads.
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Living with others increases the safety and security of your living space. With multiple people present in the house, potential risks or emergencies are reduced. You also have each other to look out for one another’s safety and possessions.
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Soft skills like effective communication, conflict resolution, tolerance, negotiation, and compromise are developed when you live with other people.
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There are opportunities to build connections through your roommate’s network. Your housemates may have access to job opportunities, social events, or other resources that you wouldn’t have on your own.
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The money you save from not renting a place all by yourself can also be used for making an investment toward buying a home in the future.
Interested in investing in rentals? Check out How to Start Your Investment Journey While You’re Still a Tenant.
However, everyone has different lifestyles, habits, and personal preferences. There might be times when you and your roommate might not see eye to eye on certain matters. You might clash over who takes out the trash, or argue about who gets to use the bathroom first in the mornings. To develop solid relationships with roommates and prevent uncomfortable situations, it’s essential to use the right communication strategies and know how to diffuse conflicts right away.
Tips for Living Peacefully With Roommates
Are you living with roommates or about to move in with one (or more)? Read on for our communication and conflict resolution tips when living with roommates.
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Establish Open and Honest Lines of Communication
Clear and open communication is the foundation of any successful living arrangement. Roommates should establish trust and respect from the beginning. Regular house meetings or roommate check-ins can serve as a platform for discussing concerns, sharing expectations, and addressing any ongoing issues.
Creating a safe space for communication allows everyone to openly express their thoughts and feelings. Encourage an open dialogue that ensures that everyone’s opinions and perspectives are valued, and can help to improve cooperation.
Is this your first time renting? See Tips for First-Time Renters - 5 Things New Renters Should Know
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Clarify Expectations and Establish Boundaries
To prevent misunderstandings and conflicts, it’s vital to establish boundaries and house rules. Right from the start, roommates should discuss important matters like cleanliness, noise levels, personal space, and shared responsibilities. There’s also nothing worse than not feeling at home in your own place, and being clear about expectations and boundaries is one way of making sure everyone feels comfortable.
It’s helpful to create a roommate agreement or a set of guidelines that outline everyone’s expectations and responsibilities. This document can address topics like chore distribution, quiet hours, and overnight guests. By setting realistic expectations and defining boundaries together, roommates can minimize potential conflicts and ensure that everyone’s needs are considered.
Regularly revisiting and updating the roommate agreement can accommodate changes and prevent future misunderstandings. Here are some examples of what to include in a roommate agreement:
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Background Information: Do they have any allergies and emergency medications? Who are their emergency contacts?
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Responsibilities: Discuss shared household chores such as cleaning common areas and taking out the trash. A calendar or list can be helpful in setting routines and holding everyone accountable.
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Quiet Hours and Noise Management: What hours and days are for work or study time? Is low background music allowed during quiet hours? What time do you expect to sleep and wake up?
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Use of Shared Spaces: How will you share common spaces like the kitchen, office space, or living room? Will you be very relaxed about it or do you want more structure? Will a schedule work to make sure everyone has equal access?
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Agreement on Guests and Events: When are guest visits allowed, and can they stay overnight? What’s the maximum number of guests you can have at a time? Will you allow parties or events? Be ready to assume responsibility for your guests’ behavior.
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Personal Items: How do you feel about sharing things and what items can be shared? What personal items are off-limits? Are guests allowed to use those items?
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Expenses: What expenses will be shared? How will the rent and utilities be paid; separately or will one person collect and pay? Will you share groceries and food expenses? How are utilities divided?
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Create a Safe and Non-Judgmental Environment
You don’t want to be in a situation where you’re afraid to share your thoughts and feelings with the people you live with. In a shared living arrangement, it’s ideal for everyone to feel safe expressing their concerns and opinions without fear of judgment or criticism. To do this, encourage open-mindedness and active listening. Avoid dismissing others’ perspectives, making assumptions, and forcing your opinions on others.
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Employ Active Listening and Empathy Before Reacting
Active listening involves more than just hearing words. It helps you understand what the person is really saying and feeling. Relationship psychologist Mairéad Malloy suggests waiting until the other person finishes talking, then demonstrating concern and paraphrasing to show you’re engaged. Malloy says active listening involves these six skills:
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Paying attention
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Withholding judgment
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Reflecting
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Clarifying
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Summarizing
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Sharing
Active listening means giving one’s full attention, maintaining eye contact, and providing verbal and non-verbal cues that show engagement. By acknowledging the emotions and experiences of others, roommates create an atmosphere of empathy and mutual understanding. This leads to effective problem-solving, as conflicts are more likely to be resolved when everyone feels heard and validated.
Empathy entails putting oneself in the other person’s shoes and trying to understand their perspective. By showing empathy, roommates can build trust and strengthen their relationships.
On the hunt for the perfect place? Check out Tips for Getting Your Dream Rental
Conflict Resolution Among Roommates
We’re only human, and at one point or another, it’s normal to run into conflicts in our relationships - roommates included. There are many things that can cause conflict.
You might have different political beliefs that often lead to heated debates. You could be living with someone who has a very direct communication style that you’re not used to. There might be that one roommate who hogs the wide-screen TV every night, but nobody has the courage to tell him about it.
Conflicts are a source of stress, and you don’t want it to last long. Unresolved conflict can lead to resentment and even mess with your mental health if left unchecked. If troubles arise among roommates, here are some conflict resolution strategies you can use to work out the problems:
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Address the Issue Promptly
Avoidance is an ineffective conflict resolution strategy where a person avoids the conflict in the hopes that it will resolve itself without any action. It seems like an easy and quiet way out, but it’s unassertive and uncooperative. One person will walk all over the other, nothing gets solved, and the problem might blow up again in the future in even more significant proportions. Ignoring or avoiding conflicts can also create significant tensions and communication breakdowns. Approach the issue as soon as possible, expressing your concerns respectfully and honestly before the problem escalates.
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Collaborative Problem-Solving
Approach conflicts as opportunities for collaboration rather than competition. Involving all roommates in the decision-making process is one way to develop a sense of ownership and cooperation. This also leads to more sustainable resolutions as everyone is involved. Brainstorming sessions, compromise, and finding common ground are effective strategies for resolving conflicts. When dealing with problems, focus on the issue at hand and don’t resort to personal attacks or blaming.
It is also important to be open to others’ perspectives and to explore solutions. For example, if there are conflicts about the division of chores, roommates can rotate responsibilities or create a shared cleaning schedule. By accommodating everyone’s preferences and needs, conflicts can be resolved in a fair and harmonious manner.
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Be Accountable and Apologize If You Did Wrong
Being accountable and taking ownership of your role in a conflict is the first step to creating a respectful dialogue. Reflect on your actions, words, or behaviors that may have contributed to the issue. Admitting your mistakes or shortcomings shows a willingness to be accountable and helps create an atmosphere of honesty.
If you’ve done something to hurt or offend your roommate, offer a sincere apology and acknowledge the impact it may have had on the other person. Saying you’re sorry shows accountability and a commitment to repairing the relationship.
This is also a good time to think about your triggers, patterns, and tendencies that may contribute to conflicts. When you understand your own behavior and emotional responses, you can take proactive steps to manage them better and prevent future conflicts.
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Compromise and Negotiate
Compromise and negotiation are essential elements of conflict management, allowing roommates to find a resolution that addresses the needs and concerns of all parties involved.
Compromise means finding a middle ground that balances the interests and preferences of the parties involved. It requires a willingness to give up some of your own desires or preferences in exchange for meeting the needs of others. It often involves finding a solution that partially satisfies each person’s objectives, even if it means making concessions or finding alternative ways to meet everyone’s needs.
Learning how to compromise is key to negotiating successfully. In negotiation, roommates discuss in order to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. It involves open communication, active listening, and a willingness to explore solutions together.
During negotiations, roommates should engage constructively, express concerns, and propose possible solutions. Approach negotiations with an open mind and focus on shared goals and interests rather than individual positions. By actively listening to each other and considering different perspectives, roommates can work together to find a resolution that satisfies everyone to a reasonable extent.
Living with other people isn’t always easy. To get the most out of living with roommates, it’s important to be self-aware, open-minded, and have good communication skills. Remember, you and your roommates are a team, so it’s important to approach conflicts with a collaborative mindset. Always work to prioritize the collective well-being, it’ll go a long way towards helping you to maintain positive relationships for everyone in the house.
Looking for more tips for tenants? Be sure to check out the Renters Warehouse blog. Our Resident Resources section is packed with tips and advice to help make renting as straightforward and hassle-free as possible. Or, looking for your next place? View available rental homes to see a list of rentals in YOUR area today.
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