Entertaining
When Flatsharing
by Ed Shin, Editor
Wednesday,
14th January 2009
Entertaining is fun but only when you have worked
out the ground rules with your flatmates to avoid conflicts
later.
Inform your
flatmates and educate your guests
When you have guests, let your flatmates know in
advance and inform your guest of any house rules. Go through
the terms on sharing chores, cleaning-up, bathroom time and
TV/music time or noise levels with your guests before they
stay over.
It’s not a pleasant sight to see dirty clothes or
damp towels lying around, especially if they aren’t yours.
If your guest hogs the bathroom for extended periods of time
and enjoys a karaoke session in the shower, it can lead to
big fights. Your guest should not be the cause of your
flatmate missing the bus to work or getting late for
classes.
If your guest is a chain-smoker or a heavy drinker,
be careful as it may cause a scene with your flat mates
especially if they are teetotallers. You may not be the one
breaking the rules, but you are guilty as charged because
you failed to apprise your guest of the house rules you
forged with your flatmates!
Privacy
Privacy is another important factor that you must
consider when having guests over. If your flatmate gets up
early for work, or has exams going on that they need to
prepare for; other people could be an annoying disturbance
to them especially when they overstay their welcome.
Talk to your guests beforehand about your flatmate
especially if there staying during weekdays. Let them know
what they shouldn’t do that might be considered infringement
of privacy. You need to take responsibility for ensuring
that your guests and flatmates do not get into
confrontations or other unpleasant situations.
Financial
implications
Expenses also play their part in your flatmates’
acceptance or approval of guests. If they see that people
you’ve brought over are using the phone for extended periods
of time or enjoying one too many meals cooked with groceries
you and your flat mates have bought; they will get very
annoyed and upset.
Don’t allow someone to sleep on your floor for
months on end, as this will irritate your flatmates,
especially if your guest isn’t making any contribution to
the household expenses. Sometimes your flatmates may not be
comfortable with certain people staying for long, or
spending the night. Their feelings and opinions have to be
respected.
Talking to your flat mate(s) and setting a few
ground rules can make the bringing of guests over a pleasant
and enjoyable experience for everyone. It pays to check out
how your flatmates feel about your friends or partner
staying over, especially if they do so on a regular basis.
It is courtesy to ask and be prepared for a negative
response if this has been occurring a lot.
Try to remember what may meet the needs of one
person may become an imposition and an inconvenience to
others.
