Ground rules for student homes

You may feel glad to escape restrictive rules when you leave home or halls of residence and take on your own student property. Here at Househustler, we suggest that you and your house-sharers agree some basic rules for your student accommodation. This will prevent many disagreements and boost your chances of living harmoniously.

Guiding principles should be fairness, not abusing others' good nature, and general consideration. Hold a 'house meeting' to discuss some rules. When agreed, formalise them in writing and have them communally displayed, to avoid disputes later.
We suggest you agree on:

Tenancy

All sharers should understand the contract terms - dates, rent, payment schedules and inventory.
Each occupant should set up their own Standing Order or Direct Debit to pay their agreed share of the rent direct to the landlord or agent.

Housekeeping

Set up a kitty for shared expenses. These include utility bills, consumables like toilet rolls and cleaning materials, and maybe kitchen items like milk, tea, coffee, sugar, condiments and biscuits.

Ensure all bills are registered in joint names. Agree who is to organise the payments.

Devise a system for keeping and filing all receipts
Living harmoniously
Decide early the kind of household you want. Will it be group living, or each living independently?
Agree your smoking policy. If it's a non-smoking house, inform visitors by displaying signs.

Decide how much group eating you want. Enjoying meals, and watching TV, together is both cost-effective and good for communications and bonding. Some, though, find it too trying.

Agree that any guests staying longer than, say, four days, should contribute to costs.

Decide on a noise policy. When will parties and loud music (including music practice) be allowed? Agree that all music speakers should be positioned off the ground, and not facing the wrong walls.
Just a few rules make for happy living in student homes.