Top Tips for Roommates

Start a conversation on Day 1!

Start your residence experience on a good note and start a conversation with your roommate. First impressions are important to make sure you make the best one you can. Talk to your roommate and Resident Advisor to schedule a time for a roommate contract if you haven’t completed one yet.

Communicate Communicate Communicate

The most important tip is to communicate with your roommate. Talk to them face to face whenever something is bothering you and keep the option to talk open. If you have something important to talk about, post it notes and texts are NOT going to work well. One exception to this principle is if you and your roommate have agreed to text discussions in limited circumstances and have also set ground rules for how you will speak to each other via text.

Sharing is Caring

What are you going to share and what is off limits? Items like toasters, kettles, coffee makers, and anything else in a common area that you’d consider sharing should be discussed. Discuss what is an option to share and also the expectations around sharing (keeping it clean and in good condition, when it can be used, etc.)

Taking out the Trash

One of the main sources of tension can come from roommates not taking out the garbage. A good way to avoid this is for each roommate to have their own bedroom garbage. You could also choose to set a schedule for taking the communal trash out and talk to each other respectfully if one of you ever forgets.

Guests

Talk about visitors, and how they are to act in your room.

It is good to talk about things like:
1. Privacy including any items or areas that are off-limits (all the time or sometimes).
2. How often and for how long visitors can stay.
3. Ground rules for visitor behaviour such as with noise.

Party Time!

Before starting your experience you should try to get on the same page with your roommate about what you want Residence to be. Complete your roommate agreement and discuss when it is appropriate to make noise and when you both prefer that the space is a bit quieter.

Getting up vs. Sleeping in

Talking about your sleep schedules can be useful when planning for visitors or louder activities such as playing music. This can also help with mornings, as keeping quiet while your roommate is sleeping is considerate.

Do Not Disturb

It is also important to talk about what would happen if one of the roommates starts a relationship and how often their partner may come over. It’s important to talk about what is considered PDA, how to notify each other when you may want some time alone, and how to give notice when a partner would be over.

Study Time

Talk about when you will want study time with your roommate. Set times where you and your roommate can study silent and times where more noise is acceptable.

Turn it Down!

Volume on devices. What is too loud, what is okay? Set clear volume expectations with your roommate so no one is disturbed. We love binge watching TV shows too but your roommate may prefer they don’t hear it through the walls.