Living together is a great way to meet new people

If you want to meet new people, living in student accommodation is an amazing chance to do so. You might feel nervous at first about introducing yourself to strangers and living with unfamiliar people, but you’ll soon get used to it. You might even find some lifelong friends! But it can also be difficult at times, especially if you have different personalities, habits and expectations.

To prevent conflicts and enjoy your shared living experience, here are some tips on how to get along with your flatmates.

Invite your flatmates to do things with you

Sharing experiences with your flatmates is the most effective way to create long-lasting relationships. It may be as simple as going to the movies, walking around the city, or just eating together. Try to find some common interests and hobbies that you can enjoy as a group to get the conversation flowing.

Start conversations

Yes, it’s easier to wait to be spoken to but that won’t get you anywhere. That doesn’t mean walking into a room full of people and being the loudest person there, but finding out more about your flatmates will help build relationships. Remember, everyone is in the same boat so practice how you feel most comfortable striking up conversations.

Create a rota

Setting some rules and creating a rota sooner rather than later will help. Whether it’s taking the bins out, doing the washing up straight away, or deciding to all do a clean of the communal areas every Sunday. This will save disagreements in the long run.

Put some music on in the kitchen

For one, this lets your flatmates know you’re up and about, and sharing some tunes can be a great conversation starter! Maybe start a Spotify playlist for the flat that you can all add music to.

Cook or bake

You’ll be sharing a kitchen with your flatmates so go into the kitchen when you hear other people in there and cook dinner or bake snacks together. This is a great ice-breaker and will make everyone feel a bit more comfortable. Plus it's a fantastic chance to try dishes made by your flatmates and also share your own.

Go food shopping together

You'll need some ingredients for all that cooking! Heading to the supermarket together can help you save money and avoid waste by buying in bulk and sharing the costs, even if it's just a shared taxi home. You can also plan a flat meal where you can cook together and enjoy some delicious food as a group.

Be respectful

Living with flatmates means you have to be considerate of their feelings, schedules, and preferences. For example, if your flatmate has an important exam or meeting the next day, don’t play loud music or invite friends over at night.

If you follow these tips and make an effort to get along with your flatmates, living in student accommodation can be a rewarding and fun experience that you will cherish for a long time.

But if things don't go to plan with your flatmates, and you feel like you need more support or assistance in conflict resolution, then get in touch with the ResX team:

Telephone: 0115 748 7600

Email: resx@nottingham.ac.uk