When I first moved into student halls I was nervous and excited. I was nervous about what the people I was going to be living with would be like. But I was also excited about moving in with young people for the first time.
I live with four others and we were the last flat to arrive. Everyone else got there on Saturday, but we didn’t move in until Sunday, so it was a bit daunting. Our flat is on the top floor of our block and I remember thinking: “Oh my god, I have to walk up all these stairs.”
My housemates got there at the same time. Our parents wanted to hang around, but we secretly tried to get rid of them, so we could get to know each other without them there.
When they eventually left, we all unpacked and went to chat in the kitchen. There’s the perfect amount of storage space – one cupboard and one shelf each.
My room is so nice. I have a desk and enough wardrobe space. I brought photos of my friends from home and put them on my walls; then, as the year has gone by, I’ve put up photos of my uni friends as well.
Since living in halls, I’ve learned to cook simple things, like pasta bakes and stir fries. We clean on Sundays and do the hoovering. We all do it together, because it’s more sociable and fun that way. We just put music on and have a laugh.
Living in halls has made me realise how expensive some some stuff, like loo roll, is. Things also get dirty quickly, but as long as you’ve got a cleaning rota it’s OK.
My tips for other students would be to learn how to cook a few meals before you go. I bought a cookbook, for example.
Definitely try to do things with your flatmates and take advantage of freshers’ week. Some of the people you meet then can become friends that you have for life. And everyone’s in the same situation, so you bond really quickly.
Now when I go back home, I appreciate things more. When your mum’s making all your meals you don’t realise how long things take. Like a roast dinner actually takes a lot of preparation. And cleaning takes a few hours. I didn’t realise before, but now I appreciate it.
Our tips on how to be a good housemate
Your new housemates could become friends for life, or they could drive you crazy. Or perhaps a bit of both. Either way, you’ll want to get on with the people you live with as much as possible. So, how can you be a good housemate?
Reach out
Everyone has their quirks, but if you get to know and like your housemates, any odd habits matter less. So put in the effort to really get to know who you’re living with and to do things with them outside of the house, says Chiara Fiorillo, who studies at City, University of London: “Try going for a walk, or eating at a restaurant together.”
Respect people’s space
There’s a delicate balance between being sociable and harassing people. “It’s a matter of being friendly but also respectful,” says Fiorillo. “You don’t want to invade other people’s privacy, especially if they’re doing exams or something.”
You’re the adults of the house now – so act like it
Being an adult means doing your own dishes and not throwing a noisy party in the house without telling anyone. “In your own room you can do whatever you want,” says Fiorillo. “But if there’s a shared toilet or kitchen, it’s very important to respect common spaces.”
Forgive others’ mistakes
For many, student halls is their first taste of living away from home. And your housemates – and you – will probably make mistakes. “When you’re at uni you’ve got one foot in the adult world and one in education,” says Jak Malone, who’s studying at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. “People are still learning and adjusting, so be considerate that not everyone’s going to get it right straight away.”
Don’t talk behind people’s backs
There’s nothing worse than going home to tension or a bad atmosphere, and it’s easily avoided with communication and compassion. “We promised to always look after each other,” says Malone. “We said, if somebody leaves a mess, let’s not complain among ourselves. Let’s go straight to the person and not ostracise anybody,” he says.
Chip in and help out
A good housemate won’t shy away from taking the bins out. “They’ll help clean and buy things like milk and bin liners and stuff like that,” says Kenderdine. And a really great housemate might even go the extra mile and buy treats for everyone. “We think nothing of nipping into a shop and buying sweets for each other,” says Malone. “It’s a really nice atmosphere.”
