Many students go to Dundee as it is a friendly city with great facilities that build independence. To save money, students prefer sharing apartments and flats. It is crucial to maintain a budget and build friendships and a network. As beneficial as it sounds, many students might have to face flatmates problems in shared housing. You might feel a lack of privacy, high noise levels, disturbed sleep, and more such issues. Addressing these problems is really important as this can directly affect your mental health and academic life. But don't worry. This article has discussed challenges which students commonly face while sharing Dundee student accommodation. Read on!
What Is Shared Student Accommodation?
Sharing houses/flats is one of the most preferred Dundee student accommodation. You might be wondering why? Well, these are residential properties where many individuals live together. They usually have their own rooms but share common areas like the kitchen, living room, and bathroom. As a result, this becomes an excellent budget-friendly option for students studying abroad. Also, sharing rooms directly leads to fostering companionship. Moreover, apartments offer more freedom and independence than uni dorms. Now, this sounds all cool and fun until you get into an argument with your flatmate. This can ruin the whole vibe of the apartment, and that's so uncool. But are you kidding? Arguments are unavoidable. But what you can do is manage it and draw some boundaries at the start itself.
How to Handle Flatmates Issues?
As discussed above, sharing a house comes with its own benefits and challenges. Roommates also come in all shapes, sizes and temperaments. Yes, living with roommates is one of the most memorable parts of student life. You do so many things together, such as late-night talks, studying, cooking meals and more. But even best friends argue while living under the same roof. Yet, any argument can be solved by a little communication and compromise. Hence, here are some commonly faced flatmates problems in shared housing along with the best ways in which you can solve them.
1. Compromised Routine
Common areas like the bathroom and kitchen are crowded in the mornings. These can easily become a reason of conflict if proper rules are not established. What are some ways in which you can avoid trouble? When multiple people are trying to get ready in the morning, the bathroom can be a big problem. During peak hours, avoid taking long showers and leave it tidy after use. Similarly, don't leave dirty dishes in the sink; wash them immediately after use. Moreover, create a morning schedule for everyone's convenience.
2. Cleanliness Issues
When you are sharing Dundee student accommodation, cleanliness is a major issue. This can be due to different cleaning standards, conflict over chores and poor waste management. It leads to an unhygienic environment and the spread of germs and dirt. Also, untidy spaces create stress, reduce comfort and affect your mental health. To avoid this, make rules at the very start of the term. Divide the cleaning task among all flatmates equally. In this way, not only will the areas be clean, but everyone will also be less tired.
3. Noise levels
Noise complaints are classic student housing problems. Activities like loud music, late-night chats, parties, or even cooking can be disturbing. Some people are sensitive, and these can ruin their sleep, study concentration and overall well-being. The best solution is to talk to your roommates and schedule some quiet hours. Establish rules such as quiet after 11 pm, cleaning only between 7 am and 9 am. You can also use headphones, earplugs or white noise cancellation as tools.
4. Rents and Bills
Sharing bills is the biggest blessing of this arrangement. But if the roommates are unreliable, then it can also cause financial troubles. Establish a clear framework early and use bill-splitting tools. Besides rents, utility bills such as electricity, water or groceries must also be taken into account. Request your flatmates to tell you in advance if there is a delay in payment, and find a solution together. If needed, everyone can make a small monthly contribution as an emergency fund.
5. Groceries and Cooking
Another flatmates problems in shared housing is in the kitchen. It can be regarding who will cook, who will buy groceries or who will clean. Students with different budgets will have varying grocery lists. Also, everyone can have various dietary needs (e.g. vegetarian, vegan, allergies). Make sure that you take into account everyone's personal needs. Moreover, limited storage space in the fridge and cupboard can lead to disputes. On top of it all, don't waste food and don't let it rot in the fridge.
6. Guests and Visitors
Having friends over and throwing parties is part of your student life. But it is problematic when one person using the whole apartment. Occasional parties and get-togethers are fine, but it shouldn't be too much. This can disrupt someone's peace and affect their studies. Unexpected guests and overstaying can feel like invading your privacy. Guests can be messy, and it adds extra responsibilities for everyone else. Therefore, be considerate and ask your roommates before inviting someone.
Conclusion
To sum up, living in apartments is fun, budget-friendly and allows freedom. But there can be some flatmates problems in shared housing as well. Some of the commonly faced issues, such as cleanliness, food, noise, etc, were discussed above. Moreover, practical solutions were also provided. However, if you have some specific preferences and need to find perfect housing, you can connect with experts at various platforms such as GraddingHomes.com. Their team can help you find the best student accommodation in UK. This will make your study abroad journey smooth and easier.
