Living and Getting Along with a Roommate During Lockdown
RentWhiz Team
Over the last few weeks and months, a lot of us have been spending more time at home due to the Covid-19 quarantine restrictions. In this week’s blog, we wanted to discuss some things you can do to make sure you’re living in harmony with you roommate(s).
Make Sure You’re All on the Lease
This first one might sound incredibly obvious, but it is important that all the people living in the property are living there legally. It is important that everyone is on the lease and has agreed to the lease terms because this will help lay the foundation for some of the fundamental house rules and responsibilities and will also eliminate some of the potential grey areas. Also, some of the rent relief options from the government are dependent on your name being on the lease, so make sure you take care of this ahead of time.
The Roommate Agreement
If you’ve ever watched The Big Bang Theory, then you’re probably familiar with Sheldon and his infamous roommate agreement. As crazy as Sheldon and his roommate agreement may seem, laying out and establishing the house rules, expectations and responsibilities early can help eliminate a lot of stress, pain and unnecessary expenses that nobody wants to deal with, especially when you’re going through school. Some people like to get something in writing while others are ok with a verbal agreement or even a handshake. Figure out what works for you, but make sure everything is understood and nothing is misunderstood when it comes to the roommate agreement and general house rules.
Figure Out How to Share Expenses
It’s important to figure this one out early because often money or lack of money is the root of a lot of problems. It helps to lay out what is considered a “personal expense” and what is considered a “shared expense” especially since some of us have had to make spending adjustments due to changes in our employment situations. For example, should groceries be personal expenses where everyone buys their own groceries, or should it be a shared expense where everyone pitches in and shares the food. One very important thing to note here is the person whose name is on the utility bills is responsible and liable for these bills and any associated expenses or interest. So, it’s important to figure out what’s owing, what’s been paid and what happens if someone fails to pay on time, because if you’re name is on the utility bill, then you are ultimately responsible, no matter what happens
Cleaning Schedule
The term, “clean”, is a relative term, but the point here is whether you love it or hate, you still need to clean the property, especially now, cleaning and hygiene can have a significant impact on your health. If you and your roommates are planning on hiring professionals to clean on regular basis, then just figure out how often and how the costs will be split and skip to the next section. However, if you plan on cleaning the property with your own hands, then it’s important to establish what needs to be cleaned, how often it needs to be cleaned and who will be responsible for cleaning what. For some people, a verbal agreement or a handshake may be enough, but if you would prefer to have something in writing and to be able to keep track of what’s been cleaned, when it was cleaned and who cleaned it, then it’s important to talk about this early and agree upon what it will look like.
Some properties don’t allow smoking in doors, but some do. If your apartment allows smoking in doors, it’s probably a good idea to decide with your roommate(s) whether you are ok with smoking in doors or even on the balcony, if you have one. This applies to drinking and cannabis consumption too. Due to the quarantine situation, consuming these substances in doors may be more likely than before, when people had the option to go to bars, pubs or clubs for this. Some people may not drink or consume cannabis products, and even if they do, they may be opposed to storing or consuming it around their home. It’s better to talk about this with your roommate(s) than to assume it’s not a problem and then find out that it is after the fact.
Food
Now that most people are spending a lot more time at home, it’s a good idea to talk about food expenses, preparation and consumption. With people being able to shop less frequently, there is a need to be more selective about what you buy, based on cost, size, nutritional value and shelf life. Splitting costs and meal preparations is a good way to save money and to stay occupied while cooking.
Space, Space, Space
Living with roommates means you’ll have a lot of shared spaces and it’s important to establish how these spaces will be shared. If you feel a space like your bedroom should be private and off limits, then make that clear if you don’t think it’s understood. Now that some people are working from home, it’s a good idea to define what certain spaces in the apartment will be used for and when they’ll be occupied. If your schedule or plan changes for whatever reason, make sure you discuss with your roommate(s).
What’s Communal and What Isn’t
Just because something is in a common or shared space it doesn’t mean it’s communal and available to everyone. As obvious as that may seem, it may not be obvious to everyone. You may not need a checklist of what’s communal and what isn’t, but it may not be such a bad idea to drop a hint or talk about, so your roommates know what you do and don’t like sharing.
We understand some people may want to keep any medical conditions or ailments that they have to themselves, but in case something ever happens your roommate may be the first person or the closest person available and it could make a major difference if they know what to expect and know exactly what to do in these situations. So please think this one over and if you feel it’s necessary, talk to your roommate about it and make sure you’re all on the same page.
Other Items and Considerations
When it comes to roommates, there may be some miscellaneous items that may not fall into any of the categories that we mentioned above, and we feel the best way to deal with these is to try maintain clear and open lines of communication, and in some cases, an open mind when it comes to dealing with these. I once had a roommate who was allergic to shellfish, and the smell of crab, lobster, shrimp or similar seafood in the apartment would make him nauseas, and in some cases would make his eyes tear up. It took him a while to bring it up because he wasn’t sure how I would react, but when he finally did, I told him he could’ve told me earlier since it was making life tough for him.