Living with flatmates is one of the most memorable parts of student life — you share meals, laughs, late-night chats, and sometimes… small disagreements.
Even the best of friends can have disagreements when living under the same roof, but most issues are easy to fix with a bit of communication and compromise.
Here are six of the most common issues to arise amongst flatmates and the best ways to handle them without turning your shared house into a battleground.
1. Cleaning conflicts
Probably the number one cause of flatmate tension!
One person’s “tidy enough” might be another’s “total chaos.” Dirty dishes, overflowing bins, and bathroom mess can create frustration fast, especially in shared areas.
Not many students are used to cleaning up after themselves nor are they used to people who won't put up with their nonsense. Tensions quickly become the most heated around this topic if people aren't seen to be pulling their own weight for the tasks they should be helping out with.
Solution: Create a cleaning duty roster and stick it somewhere visible, like on the fridge or pinned in the group chat. Rotate responsibilities weekly so chores stay balanced. Or, if people prefer consistency and a routine works well for everyone, keep the roles the same each week - as long as they're all done and the house is tidy, everyone will be happy.
If someone forgets, send a polite reminder instead of a passive-aggressive message. Remember, everyone’s busy — a bit of flexibility goes a long way.
2. Noise levels
From loud music to late-night conversations, noise complaints are classic student house issues.
Solution: Set quiet hours during weekdays or agree on what’s acceptable after a certain time. If your flatmate’s being noisy, talk to them directly and kindly — most people don’t realise how loud they are until someone mentions it.
Remember to not be petty though, because once irritated you may find that you are more likely to pick u on really small issues that could've gone unmentioned to save civil behaviour.
Noise-cancelling headphones also help when you need to focus or rest.
3. Sharing food (or not)
Food boundaries can get blurry in shared kitchens, especially when everyone’s fridge space is limited.
Solution: Label your food and agree early on what’s shared and what’s not, things like milk, butter, and cooking oil can be communal (it helps save money and time for everyone, as well as causing less wastage) if everyone contributes (this helps keep it fair.)
If something goes missing, bring it up calmly. Avoid blaming right away; sometimes it’s just a mix-up.
4. Bills and money
Splitting bills fairly can be tricky — someone always forgets to pay on time, or energy usage feels uneven.
Solution: Use apps like Splitwise, Monzo, or Revolut to track shared expenses automatically.
If bills aren’t included in rent, agree upfront on how payments are handled. Transparency keeps friendships intact!
5. Guests and overnight visitors
Having friends over is part of student life, but it can get uncomfortable if one person treats the flat like a hotel. The occasional visitor to the house/flat can be fun but when everyone is paying for bills (either included in rent or paying additionally on top) and someone is staying over consistently but not chipping in - they soon overstay their welcome...
Solution: Set ground rules early. For example, how often guests can stay overnight or whether you need to tell others first.
Mutual respect is key: it’s your home too, so everyone deserves comfort and privacy.
6. Temperature wars
One flatmate’s “perfectly warm” is another’s “boiling hot.”
Disagreements about heating (especially with energy caps) can cause tension.
Solution: Agree on a reasonable temperature range and stick to it.
If bills are included, check if there’s a usage cap so everyone’s aware. Otherwise, take turns deciding or set the thermostat to a middle ground. Before whacking up the heating, make sure to take other precautions like putting on an extra jumper, cuddling up in a blanket, making yourself a hot drink or a hot water bottle. However, in the winter months it is important to stay warm, so don't avoid putting on the heating. In fact, putting the heating on (sparingly) can help reduce the risk of mould.
Final thoughts
Living with others can be challenging, but it’s also one of the best parts of student life. You’ll learn patience, problem-solving, and how to live harmoniously with different personalities — valuable skills for the future.
And if you’re still looking for a new place or better flatmates, Accommodation for Students makes it easy to find shared houses and compare living options that suit your lifestyle and budget.
