These days,however, most millennials are choosing to live in shared apartments which is a much more affordable option, due to the shared costs.
However, living with roommates is not a walk in the park. You need to establish some rules to live peacefully together.
Here are some:
1. Choosing roommates
Most people wing it when looking for roommates. You’ll find all sorts of advertisements online on people looking to share apartments. It’s however, good to know the kind of person that you’ll be sharing an apartment with. Hey, your new found roomie could be a serial killer! You never know! It’s always better to take caution and use word of mouth by telling friends and family so that you find someone who comes well recommended.
Photo: Paa Kwasi Photography
2. Cleanliness
You need to establish cleanliness rules. I mean, living with someone who doesn’t flush the toilet after use or who leaves greasy dirty dishes after cooking is a nightmare. You certainly don’t want to live in filth!
3. House chores & bills
Share bills; share house chores and agree on who does what. Alternatively, everyone could just clean up after themselves. Once you’re done cooking, do your dishes, clean your own clothes, room etc.
Image: Woman.ng
4. Respect personal items
Imagine coming home to find that your roommate wore your shoes and ruined them? Whether it’s a book, accessory, a piece of electronic, never take your roommate’s items without asking for permission.
5. Meals
When living with roommates, the best arrangement is where by everyone buys their own food; or you could share the basics such as milk and bread. Food is really expensive and it’s not fair for one person to feed everyone else! Unless you’re Mother Teresa!
Photo: Facebook/Zahra Buhari
6. Noise
You cannot host a party without alerting your roommates! Also, while on this point, keep your volume down when watching TV or listening to music.
Image: www.glennagordon.com
7. Moving out
You need to give your roommates notice when you plan on moving out so that they get a replacement in due time. It’s rude to just up and leave!
8. Bringing strangers to the house
It’s quite disrespectful to go out every other weekend and bring your one-night stand sexcapades back to a shared apartment. A spouse is fine but remember to keep your private business private!
Photo: Poka Arts
9. Dress code around shared areas
You can’t live with 2 men and come out dressed in underwear only! Or as a guy, living with 2 girls and you’re walking around the house butt naked.
Image: Fela.net
