{"id":148839,"date":"2024-09-30T15:20:07","date_gmt":"2024-09-30T14:20:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.society19.com\/uk\/?p=148839"},"modified":"2024-09-30T15:20:08","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T14:20:08","slug":"how-to-handle-a-difficult-college-roommate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.society19.com\/uk\/how-to-handle-a-difficult-college-roommate\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Handle A Difficult College Roommate"},"content":{"rendered":"

Unfortunately, sometimes it does happen. Whether it is a difficult college roommate or a difficult flatmate, we do sometimes end up stuck with people who aren\u2019t really on our wavelength, don\u2019t live the same way as us, or are just generally not great people. But, there are a few things that can help you deal with this!<\/p>\n

1. Discuss Setting Some Rules<\/h2>\n

Perhaps set up a rota for cleaning, or discuss how often you\u2019ll empty bins or who will use the bathroom when. Compare schedules, so your roommate knows what days you\u2019ll need to get a good sleep to get up early, and let them know what nights you won\u2019t be in so they can have friends over. Whatever it is that you\u2019re picky about, make it clear from day one and start as you mean to go on.<\/p>\n

If the person you\u2019re going to be living with knows what to expect right from the beginning and you\u2019re really clear about what you will and won\u2019t live with and then if you\u2019ve made some reasonable points and they choose to ignore these, it will only be them at fault.<\/p>\n

2. Avoid Sharing Things<\/h2>\n

Buy your own things from day one and avoid sharing – this can often lead to arguments. Avoid it from the beginning and then you\u2019ll have no chance of things going pear-shaped!<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\n

3. Consider Locking Things Away<\/h2>\n

If they\u2019re using or stealing your things, try labeling them at first to make a point of saying \u201cthis is mine, please don\u2019t use it\u201d. If that fails, consider getting a safe or some locks for your cupboards and drawers. This is a perfectly acceptable thing to do, so don\u2019t feel like you\u2019re being rude or nasty.<\/p>\n

4. Sit Them Down and Discuss It Like Adults<\/h2>\n

If they do something that you\u2019re not happy with or that annoys or upsets you, don\u2019t shout or start an argument, simply sit them down at a reasonable time of day and discuss the issue like an adult. Explain what they did that you didn\u2019t like and why, and then talk about how you can avoid the situation again in the future. Always be respectful and reasonable.<\/p>\n

5. Get A Mediator<\/h2>\n

If you can\u2019t have a reasonable and adult-like discussion, consider getting a mediator. Whether that be one of your friends, a mutual friend, someone from the university, or even a parent, just find someone to sit with you both to keep things reasonable, respectful and calm. It\u2019s always good to have someone that will see things from both sides and someone that can keep you both in order.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\n

6. Speak To Your University Or College<\/h2>\n

If you can\u2019t get through to them and they\u2019re refusing to be reasonable, go to your student support or student advisor and explain what\u2019s been happening – if you have any evidence or witnesses, take it\/them with you. The university or college might move them or at least threaten to if they think your case is reasonable, so it\u2019s worth going to them if you really think your roommate\u2019s behaviour is impacting your studies or your mental health in some way – this is unacceptable so don\u2019t let them get away with it!<\/p>\n

7. Get Out Of Your Room As Much As Poss & Kill \u2018Em With Kindness<\/h2>\n

If all else fails and you have no choice but to carry on living with them, just make sure to build yourself a good social life and get out of your room as often as possible and when you do have to be around them, be really nice and kind to them even when they don\u2019t do the same for you – always be the better person.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\n

If you\u2019re dealing with a difficult college roommate right now, try some of these steps out and if it\u2019s getting you down, always talk to someone about it – bottling things up never helps! If you\u2019ve had to deal with a difficult flatmate or roommate before, let us know how you dealt with it in the comments below!<\/h3>\n

Featured image source: https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/people-wearing-backpacks-1454360\/<\/a><\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Unfortunately, sometimes it does happen. Whether it is a difficult college roommate or a difficult flatmate, we do sometimes end up stuck with people who aren\u2019t really on our wavelength, don\u2019t live the same way as us, or are just generally not great people. But, there are a few things that can help you deal…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25519,"featured_media":148840,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":true},"categories":[1807],"tags":[8055,8610,9245,8373,8256,8057],"thb-sponsors":[],"class_list":["post-148839","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-campus-life","tag-campus-life","tag-college","tag-college-life","tag-flatmate","tag-roommate","tag-university"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow To Handle A Difficult College Roommate - Society19 UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"College roommates can something be people that we don't quite see eye to eye with. 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