{"id":34111,"date":"2025-11-19T16:59:13","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T16:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kortext.com\/student-hub\/?p=34111"},"modified":"2025-11-19T17:01:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T17:01:20","slug":"living-with-housemates-for-the-first-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kortext.com\/student-hub\/university-students\/living-with-housemates-for-the-first-time\/","title":{"rendered":"A Fresher\u2019s guide on how to survive living with housemates for the first time\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by Habiba and reviewed by our team. Habiba is a student at the University of Surrey\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Moving away for\u00a0uni\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0just mean leaving home\u00a0\u2013\u00a0it also means leaving your comfort zone.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I still remember move-in day: it felt so daunting, and I kept wondering\u00a0how on earth\u00a0I was going to live with 14\u00a0(yes\u00a0you read that correctly)\u00a0other students for an entire year without losing my mind.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But we made it work, and some of them ended up becoming my closest friends.\u00a0They\u2019ve\u00a0genuinely shaped my\u00a0uni\u00a0experience into what it is today.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>So\u00a0here are my main tips and bits of advice for freshers living out for the first time:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Make a flat group chat<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    This is a lifesaver.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0the easiest way to reach everyone about flat issues, especially the ghost\u00a0flatmates\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0probably only\u00a0see three times\u00a0all\u00a0year. In our flat, if there were dirty dishes piling up,\u00a0we\u2019d\u00a0send a pic in the chat and\u00a0\u2018name and shame\u2019.\u00a0It actually worked most of the time.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Host an initial games night\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Nothing breaks the ice better. Classic games like Ring of Fire or card games like Rummy always go down well, but newer ones like Imposter or Mafia are hilarious too. By the end of the year, Twister became a flat staple for us and three years on,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0still a\u00a0favourite.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Agree on flat rules<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        It might sound\u00a0picky, but setting out a few ground rules early on helps avoid bigger problems later.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

        For example: if you cook, clean up straight after; if\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0hosting a party, let everyone know in the group chat well in advance, make sure most of the flat is happy with it, and take responsibility for cleaning up any mess. Our flat was right by the\u00a0uni\u00a0nightclub, so we had plenty\u00a0of\u00a0social\u00a0gatherings,\u00a0but setting these boundaries kept things fair.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Take downtime<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          This was something I struggled with at first. I felt like I always had to be in the kitchen\u00a0socialising, cooking, or baking with everyone.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

          But sometimes the best thing you can do is retreat to your room, binge\u00a0a show, or call your parents. Alone time is key, especially when\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0socially burnt out. You do not have to go out and do everything<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0Do what you know you would enjoy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Respect exam season<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            This is usually a rule in halls anyway, but in a house\u00a0share\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0worth making clear: no parties or loud music during exams.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

            No one wants to be trying to revise while basslines are shaking the walls at 4 a.m. Save the Sammy Virji sets for after exams then you can all celebrate properly.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

            The last thing you want is\u00a0people from\u00a0the flat below<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0who\u00a0are all highly stressed final year students<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0coming\u00a0up and\u00a0telling\u00a0you off.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              \n
            1. Remember everyone\u2019s in the same boat\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              Every single fresher is adjusting to living away from home, so if\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0feeling nervous, chances are everyone else is too.\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0be afraid to smile, say hi, and start conversations. Even small gestures in the first couple of weeks can make\u00a0a big\u00a0difference.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              Living with others can feel daunting at first, just like move-in day, but it\u2019s also one of the most rewarding parts of the uni experience. If you keep these tips in mind, you won\u2019t just get through living with new people \u2014 you may even find that they become the ones who shape your uni experience in the best possible way.<\/p>\n

              Check out the Kortext social media channels below to discover more student support and tips.<\/p>\n

              \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

              \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Living with others can feel daunting at first, but it\u2019s also one of the most rewarding parts of the uni experience. Read our advice on how to live with other students!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":34116,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[256,11],"tags":[348,270,349,350],"class_list":["post-34111","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-university-life","category-university-students","tag-accomodation","tag-freshers","tag-housing","tag-socialising","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\nA Fresher\u2019s guide on how to survive living with housemates for the first time\u00a0 - Kortext student hub<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Living with others can feel daunting at first, but it\u2019s also one of the most rewarding parts of the uni experience. 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