When you move in with someone, it can be tricky to get used to having someone else around that doesn't always do things the way you expect them to be done. Whether it's leaving clutter on the table that you'd rather they cleaned up, or simply not putting the toilet seat down when they're finished in the bathroom, it can be tricky to deal.
And while most people are able to reach a compromise with their partners or roommates, one woman has put her foot down and told her boyfriend that if he doesn't follow her two household rules, she could end up dumping him.
The 21-year-old woman said she is looking at moving into a three-bedroom house with her 26-year-old boyfriend, and although they already live together at his mum's house, their new home will be their first property together.
However, before the couple move in and get settled, the woman has come up with two rules she expects her boyfriend to follow - their hobbies and collections have to stay in separate rooms, and tables and other surfaces must stay clutter-free.
In a post on Reddit, the woman explained: "I want to tell him that I have two rules and if he refuses or can't handle them, I might have to think about this relationship depending on how much he actually tries.
"I want our hobbies/collections to stay in our own offices. I don't want to have five to six little aeroplane figures as decorations on our kitchen table. I want to tell him I do not care what he has in his office, but I don't want him to get so much that it all overflows into the rest of the house, like it did with his parents' house.
"Obviously, this doesn't mean nothing can ever come out of that room, but I don't want him to get used to taking over our tables with unfinished projects. I'm going to make it clear that the very same goes for me. Also should mention I'm giving him my half the garage if we get a two-car for his workshop if he wants it. Making sure he has plenty of space for his hobbies."
The woman said her second rule was all about keeping the house clean, as she said she didn't want their countertops and tables to become cluttered.
She added: "I want our mail and papers organised, I don't want things that don't belong in the kitchen to take up counter space. I really don't think I am asking too much because I just want us to make better habits with being clean and I will not allow him to completely take over the common area. Now that I will be paying half the bills, I will have much more of a say than I do now.
"I think if he refuses to not take over the common area, I can't live with that at all. But if he seriously tries and keeps showing improvement over time, I'm willing to be patient because I know it's not easy."
Commenters on the post were largely on the woman's side, with many saying her requests aren't unreasonable and should hopefully lead to "improved life quality" in her new home.
One person said: "Sounds reasonable to me. You want to make a fresh new start without clutter and chaos all over the house, that's a good plan to improve life quality in your new home."
While another added: "I will say though, make sure when you convey this to your partner to make sure that you are clear that you aren't expecting pristine, nothing ever out of place type clean. I think it's easy to misinterpret what you're saying as wanting everything picked up and put away the second it enters the house when in reality you are being totally reasonable about it."
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