We look at some simple rules that tenants can follow to have a good time living together.

Are you renting a house with a friend or acquaintance? Never lived with someone before? There are some great tips below that will help you get used to your new home.

Rent isn’t cheap these days, and the monthly payments can be hard to make, whether you’re a student or an employee. So, if you’re going to move in with a roommate, there are a few basics you should follow to make sure everything goes smoothly for everyone.

We look at some ways to make your flatshare feel like a happy home in this short article.

Read and Understand your Rental Agreement Carefully

Every person who lives with you has their own duties, even if you live with more than one person. The lease you and your roommates probably signed together lists all of your names. This means that you and the other people living in the house are all responsible for paying the rent and following the rules of the lease. Make sure you have a copy of your lease on hand so you know what you need to do and what your owner needs to do.

Bills should be Split between each Roommate

You should agree on how to split the bills when you live with someone. The easy way to do it is to split it 50/50, but you and the person (or people) you are sharing with have to agree on this.

Check with your energy company to see if you can put more than one name on the bill to avoid conflicts. As a result, everyone named is responsible for paying. Also, anyone whose name is on the account can call the service provider if there are any problems.

Let your Roommate Know their Cleaning Duties

There are people who love to scrub surfaces and wash windows and people who just don’t. To make your rented home a happy place to live, agree on which areas are shared and who will clean what. Bathrooms and kitchens that are dirty and crowded can cause extra stress, so make sure that everyone does their fair share of the work. Divide the cost of a cleaning service from a professional if you truly hate cleaning.

You can share bigger tasks, but if you have dirty dishes or no toilet paper, you need to do them yourself. Don’t worry about little things.

Respect your Housemates

Whether you and your housemate work different hours, it’s important to be quiet and not bother them with your noise. After all, July 30 is World Friendship Day, so don’t be that annoying or rude friend!

Also, keep clear of their bedroom. By maintaining boundaries between private and communal spaces, you’ll always have somewhere to retreat to just in case.

Food Arrangements

Figure out what you’re going to do about food before you start sharing. Are you going to shop together or by yourself? Are some things okay to share and some to keep for yourself? Sticky notes on bread and butter are not a good idea. Instead, agree to split the freezer drawers and shelves in the fridge.