Leaving home to study is an exciting time in a young person’s life. It often means living with people outside their immediate family for the first time. For some, this can be a great experience. But if conflicts and disagreements aren’t managed well, it can make living with others difficult.
Our mediation team often hear from students who want to solve conflicts about things like:
- late-night noise
- keeping the house clean
- personality clashes
- unwanted guests
Sometimes these issues can be made worse because of personal issues and external pressures.
Our mediation team have put together some tips for practical ways to handle disagreements, communicate clearly, and keep shared space peaceful.
Preventing disputes
Taking steps to prevent disagreements from arising in the first place is always better than trying to resolve them later.
Planning a house meeting is one way to get off to a good start. A meeting can help housemates:
- get to know each other and learn expectations and boundaries
- come to an agreement on everyday tasks like cooking and cleaning
- encourage open and regular communication
A house meeting is most successful if everyone engages and actively listens to each other.
Manage disputes well
Even with good communication and understanding, disputes can arise from time to time in shared homes. Tackling disputes in the right way can prevent them from spiralling.
If disagreements happen in a shared house, students should:
- discuss issues as soon as they arise, in a calm way
- consider the impact they could be having on others
- allow space for differences
- be willing to compromise
Keeping to an agreement
Once a disagreement has been resolved, housemates should think about ways to prevent the problem from coming up again.
Keeping lines of communication open makes it easier to adjust expectations if circumstances change.
Putting pen to paper and drafting an informal roommate agreement can also be helpful. It makes sure everyone is on the same page and clear about what they have agreed to.
Get more help
Students might sometimes need extra support to solve problems in their shared homes.
Our Housing Mediation service offers free mediation for young people aged 18 –25 years old.
Mediation is an alternative dispute resolution process. It gets people to work together to resolve their housing issues.