K1: flat and flatmates Chennai
K2: stanzaliving
If it weren’t enough that you’ve moved out of your family home and into a new city all on your own, you have to navigate finding a flat and flatmates in Chennai as well. And that’s a difficult prospect, especially as you've never shared your space with others before. What should you expect? What kind of relationship will you and your flatmate have? And what should you completely avoid? Well, it’s perfectly understandable for these questions to be running through your mind. Living with flatmates can require a bit of adjustment and compromise. But with the right attitude and some great tips up your sleeve, you can have a great time. So, that’s what we’re bringing to you today. Check out our list of dos and don’ts of living with a flatmate!Do get to know them
Your flatmate could end up becoming one of your best friends for life if you take the effort of getting to know them. Be friendly and open, ask questions about their life, share your own likes and dislikes and spend time together. You could bond over common interests or make it a point to share a meal frequently in order to solidify your relationship. Getting to know them better will also help you be more considerate of their needs. You’ll know whether they prefer a quiet night in or a house party as a way to unwind and will be able to make arrangements for your own life accordingly too.Don’t snoop
Of course, when you get to know your flatmate, there’s always the risk of getting to know too much. And that’s because living with someone makes you privy to a lot of personal information about them. And while this can bring you closer together, it does not give you the right to go snooping into their life or belongings. Don’t go through their stuff when they’re not around, unless you have express permission, and don’t gossip about your flatmate behind their back either. These things are likely to damage your relationship and cause friction in your home.Do communicate openly
One of the major reasons that flatmate relationships fail or become passive-aggressive is if both parties refuse to speak to each other and share their needs. It’s alright to have disagreements as long as they can be resolved in a calm and friendly manner. Instead of being resentful in silence, make it a habit to communicate openly with your flatmate and encourage them to do the same. If you need a more structured space to do this, you can even schedule a monthly house meeting to air out any issues. Being honest with each other can save you a lot of unpleasantness and fuss.Don’t clutter common spaces
Just because you and your flatmate are sharing a home doesn’t mean that you have to litter the entire flat with your belongings. It’s alright if you have some personal items in the common areas but make sure that you’re not occupying more than your fair share of the flat. Try and keep personal items in your respective rooms, and common-use items in the kitchen or the hall. If there are items that you don’t want to share, you should keep them in your room rather than in a common space. This will ensure that neither of you crosses any boundaries even inadvertently.Do divide your chores equally
One of the most contested areas of living with a flatmate has to be dividing the chores. A lot of the time, it ends up being one person who pulls most of the weight. And that’s not fair. Instead of letting chores be a burden for both of you, talk it out and see who can take on which responsibility. Then create a chart or a rota that you can put up in a shared space for more accountability. And if you’d rather take the squabbles over chores out of your flatmate relationship, opt for a professionally managed accommodation like Stanza Living which will provide you with a spacious flat and professional housekeeping services. So, you don’t need to worry about doing the dishes or whose turn it is to sweep the floor again.So, there you have it. These practical and easy to follow do’s and don’ts should have you sorted when it comes to having healthy relationships with your flatmates in Chennai. So, put them into practice and have a great time together.