Keep conversations solution focused rather than telling each other off. If necessary, make changes to the housemate agreement to prevent similar problems from occurring. People cannot change what they have done, but might change in the future.    You might be a model tenant, however:

 

What if another person’s share of the rent is late? Anything an individual does reflects on the whole group. If someone in your group pays their share of the rent late, this may affect everyone’s future landlord reference.

 

What if the house is burgled, because a small window was left open, an external door is left unlocked or a ‘hidden’ key was found? Because someone was negligent, you may not be able to claim on your insurance for your personal goods that are lost or damaged. Our policy may also be void because of your negligence and any of our items lost or damaged may have to be paid for by you. Thieves gaining access via a small window left open or using a ‘hidden’ key can cause thousands of pounds of damage! 

 

Who needs a cleaning rota? Do you want to sit on a toilet that hasn’t been recently cleaned? Will you spend hours cleaning the cooker at the end of your tenancy? Will mouldy food lurk in the kitchen bin? Do you want to live in a healthier environment?

 

How you conduct your tenancy may affect a future landlord reference. We provide references for around 50% of our tenants, with the percentage rising year on year. Future agencies/landlords often ask simple questions: Did you pay the rent on time? Did you conduct the tenancy in a satisfactory manner? Do you consider them to be a good tenant? Any anti-social behaviour?

 

Whether you have a written housemate agreement or not, hopefully we have convinced you that creating some simple ‘ground rules’ will help you enjoy your time living together!