Sharing Houses/ Flats

[timbobagginsii]

I'm compiling a NHF for folks just about to move out of parental homes/ halls of residence into shared accomodation.

This is far as I've got:

General Ideas for Living in a Shared House

The Big Rules
Respect each other.
Look out for each other at least as much as yourselves.

The Minor Rules

In the bathroom are three white porcelain objects (bath, wash basin and toilet). These are designed to contain liquid. With the exception of glasses (used in the process of shaving and teeth-brushing) nothing else is. Try and keep moisture within these three objects. If you can’t, mop up.

It is not a good idea to set toasters on fire.

If you break something and insist on replacing it even though you are told it doesn’t matter back up your words with action once you’ve persuaded the owner that you want to.

Microwave ovens do not need preheating. They do, however, need cleaning after use.

Bacon DOES need cooking on both sides.

It is a good idea not to run up massive phone bills on chat lines and then go away for a couple of weeks when the invoice arrives.

Couples are technically two people and as such deserve no special dispensation. IE they contribute what two non-couple people would to the house.

It makes no sense, when there is limited storage space for everyone to store his or her crockery separately as this uses up valuable space. A big pile of plates takes up much less space than 7 small piles of plates. Get over the idea of personal possession in the kitchen.

Wash everything as soon as you have finished with it (at the very longest leave it until the next afternoon).

Make cups of tea for one another.

The shower curtain goes on THE INSIDE!

It is impolite to take an hour and a half in the bathroom between 7am and 8.30am. This is the time most people need a quick wash and to brush their teeth.

Don’t take the piss out of each other’s musical taste TOO much.

Don’t make a habit of leaving notes that state the bleeding obvious.

Rotas and job lists may seem too formal. They ARE ESSENTIAL or nothing gets done.
Expect to be laughed at if you do something stupid.

Share food and drink as often as possible.

Do not form factions.

Pass the remote.

Gang up on the landlord if he’s negligent, don’t leave it to one crusading member of the household.

Don’t force your lifestyle on your housemates.


Is there anything I've missed?
Is it reasonable?
What do you think?

[windoze killa]

May I ask, are you bored?

[timbobagginsii]

You may ask.
And yes I am.
Bored, and fed up - just about everything mentioned, besides the two big rules, is a direct result of things that have happened.

[windoze killa]

Had a feeling that was the case. Just have to yell at them louder.

[tankinan]

Originally posted by timbobagginsii
The shower curtain goes on THE INSIDE!



Finally, someone has the guts to say it.

[carrja99]

Make cups of tea for one another.
Is that some Brit thing? I've mever heard of making cups of tea for each other. Sure, I've made some tea, put it in the fridge and said if anyone wants it they can have it, but come on....

[MartinB]

I'm British and never make cups of tea... Maybe that's to do with the fact that I hate tea... :D

[timbobagginsii]

The cups of tea thing, yeah, well it could be put like this:
When you go to the kitchen to get yourself a drink, ask if anyone else would like one.
Which didn't sound quite right.

[cage47]

Another big rule of sharing a home/apartment is.....

Do not make a room mate out of a pre-established Friend.
There are exceptions to this rule, but the general concensus is that it will only sour the relationship in some way. It's happened to me and I've seen it happen to too many people to know it is true. The only time I've seen an exception (maybe) was two of my childhood friends, a guy and girl went in as room mates but they ended up as lovers and got married. Thing is though that we all thought that was going to happen anyhow. But they started out as friends.

Another big one, according to the laws of physics pouring liquids from one source to the other will inevitably cause some kind of splashing. So no matter how carefully aimed, taking a leak will cause some amount of splashing. So guys put the seat up when nature calls and put it back down when done if for no other reason than to not have to receive a *****in form the female members of the house. And ladies have the foresight to at least look before sitting. Save you the annoyance.

[cage47]

Oh almost forgot. If you find something in the fridge that has past it's expiration date (ie, milk that has turned into cottage cheese, hairy pieces of pizza or bowls of unknown substances emerging as new forms of life) Don't put it back for the next person to find. And if there's a question...No, milk does NOT have lumps.

[Penrich]

Oh boy - brings back memories. Was I happy to graduate and get my own place! That thing about couples can really divide a house - it automatically forms a faction for a start, and when only one member of that faction is paying rent... It always seems to happen though.

Still - I was always the slob who never cleaned up - and my wife thinks I still am! :o

You forgot: when you get mad at one of your roomies, do not go to their food stash and start mixing all the contents: jam in their cereal; salt (or sugar) in anything open... it only gets uglier!:D

[windoze killa]

Originally posted by cage47

So guys put the seat up when nature calls and put it back down when done if for no other reason than to not have to receive a *****in form the female members of the house. And ladies have the foresight to at least look before sitting. Save you the annoyance.

How about a bit of equality here. Women have been yelling/demanding equality for years so how about they abide by it. If they want us to put the seat down when we have finished how about they put it up when they have finished.

[timbobagginsii]

bump

[jerbear]

Actually, my preference is just to require that both the seat and the lid be down! That way if she doesn't put the lid down, I have the right to start complaining! Also, lid and seat down tends to be a bit cleaner and look a bit tidier than any other way.


Another suggestion:
Get a pair of rubber gloves if you wish, but make sure you clean the bathroom when it's your turn, and try to put some effort into it. Consistent failure to do so could easily result in your priority level in the bathroom becoming radically reduced. If you won't clean it, don't complain if someone else is taking too long in it.

[theevilblah]

nice.

[timbobagginsii]

When there are tea towels in the washing machine waiting for someone to fill the machine to make it worth putting it on DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, take out the tea towels, leave them on the floor, and put on a complete load of your own clothes instead.

[curtis119]

The most valuable lesson I learned concerning rules in my ten years of sharing a house is:

Don't make rules!!! Rules are for work and public. When I'm at home I want to be comfortable and following stupid rules makes it impossible.

Instead everyone should use common sense and politeness. Anyone who can't do this should move out or be kicked out (on their @ss).

In other words:

If your a neat freak only live with other neat freaks (I fall into this category).

If your a slob only live with other slobs.

etc...

[timbobagginsii]

Yeah, rules don't make for a friendly household, all I'm doing here is blowing off steam and I'd have thought most of what I said fit in the "common sense and politeness" category anyway.

[timbobagginsii]

When tidying, move coffee tables out of the way first, do not push them around with the hoover and be surprised when they flip over and break.

[timbobagginsii]

If you are negligent in your payments to the bills kitty citing "no money at all" as a reason, at the very least don't be obvious about your massive spending on things like Playstation2s, drugs and the like. Alternatively, just pay your dues, not that I think you're taking the p1ss here.

[bogler]

don't have sex with your flatmate.. that really changes the dynamic especially if her boyfriend is coming to visit! Ha ;)

She was a real dirty girl .. :D

[timbobagginsii]

If you absolutely MUST tread in dog poo, it is friendly to take off your shoes before entering the house.

If you absolutely MUST tread the aforementioned poo all over the house before you notice, it is friendly to make damn sure that you clean it ALL up and don't leave it for a barefooted housemate to discover.

[timbobagginsii]

It is polite to refrain from plastering one's greasy fingertips all over a beautiful 17" flat screen monitor, especially after repeated requests to desist.

[Can O' Beans]

Multiple roomies?

Simple - No pets. ;)



and...

If you bring home a cute date, make sure you bring enough of her cute friends for everyone else! Show some courtesy!! :D ;)

[williamwbishop]

Don't know about the roomates make friendships go bad thing. A friend and I roomed with 4 girls in college, soon there were two couples and eventually we all became married. Was pretty convenient.

As to tea, if I am making a cup of tea, I always make two even if my wife doesn't want it, because she usually changes her mind when the pot is hot. But I don't drink that atrocious tea you brits do. I'm quite fond of green tea, and I can't imagine drinking the other. It's just so harsh.

[windoze killa]

Originally posted by williamwbishop
Don't know about the roomates make friendships go bad thing. A friend and I roomed with 4 girls in college, soon there were two couples and eventually we all became married. Was pretty convenient.



I thought that this would be some form of bigamy in most countries. :D

[williamwbishop]

Originally posted by windoze killa
I thought that this would be some form of bigamy in most countries. :D

Only slept with the one girl, as did chris(well actually he slept with my wife before I did technically). He picked heather and they are still married. I picked shannon and we are still married too. Of the other two, one was a lesbian, and the other was a nut.

[windoze killa]

Originally posted by williamwbishop
Of the other two, one was a lesbian, and the other was a nut.

And the difference would be??

[williamwbishop]

Originally posted by windoze killa
And the difference would be??

lesbians aren't as annoying.

[windoze killa]

Originally posted by williamwbishop
lesbians aren't as annoying.

Touche

[williamwbishop]

Originally posted by windoze killa
Touche

Bows in honour of the vanquished. ;)

[timbobagginsii]

Sorry if I repeat myself:
Under no circumstances whatsoever is it acceptable to leave blood soaked non-flushables in the toilet bowl.

[emetib]

just kick the bums out on there bumms.

if they don't like it and they don't know how to respect other peoples things, then tell them where it go.

[endorphinjunkie]

Having grown up with numerous siblings and then living four years in a fraternity house, the last thing I wanted when I got out into the real world was roommates or housemates. So it was no problem allotting over half my income for housing. Sweet, blissful privacy. :D

[timbobagginsii]

Never leave the kitchen in such a fscking state that it's unusable and fresh meat goes off in the fridge whilst Tim plucks up the courage to shift other people's mouldy old ****e.

[emetib]

so you get to keep your cable.

[timbobagginsii]

Until the contract expires in a few months.
Then, despite the benefits of cable, I'll be moving somewhere where there's only my mess, or at the very most one other person's, and unless they're considerably richer than me...

[emetib]

just move close to a univeristy and set up a wireless network and share their band width. i've met a couple of students here that have done that.

[timbobagginsii]

I'll look into the possibility. Or even move next door to someone with cable and network out the window with them. The possibilities are endless.
Light at the end of the gloomiest thread on the board.
Cheers.

[timbobagginsii]

Never pour melted fat down the sink. Especially not when it's freezing outside.
Stupid bastards, are you really trying to flood the kitchen?
At the very least you've made the sink unusable for the next couple of days or until someone does something pretty f*cking spectacular to melt the fat in the pipes which is difficult because the sink is full of icy water full of floating fat chunks.
Maybe you're just trying to piss me off.
Congratulations.

[emetib]

damm, you should just get a place by yourself. then you wouldn't have to worry about all of the stupid bastards that are messing up your way of life.

i forgot what the british word for stupid bastard is, would you refresh my memory.

[timbobagginsii]

I've PMed you with a few choice words that would like as not get me into trouble if posted in public.

[emetib]

Originally posted by timbobagginsii
I've PMed you with a few choice words that would like as not get me into trouble if posted in public.


thanks man, i couldn't remember the w* one.

[endorphinjunkie]

Originally posted by emetib
thanks man, i couldn't remember the w* one.


That w would be "wanker" wouldn't it? Couldn't find it in Webster's, though.:cool:

[emetib]

Originally posted by endorphinjunkie
That w would be "wanker" wouldn't it? Couldn't find it in Webster's, though.:cool:

that's the one. schmeklehead(sp?) comes to mind also.

[endorphinjunkie]

Originally posted by emetib
[B]that's the one. schmeklehead(sp?) comes to mind also. [/B

Is that the same as "sheiterkoff" (sp) I am not that familiar with German.:rolleyes:

[emetib]

Originally posted by endorphinjunkie
Is that the same as "sheiterkoff" (sp) I am not that familiar with German.:rolleyes:

don't know any german. friend from the island used to call people that along with wanker, and felcher (oops, maybe shouldn't have used that one, well who cares). the next time someone is being really a dumbass call them that, most people don't know what it is. i won't go into terminology on that one, so you'll have to look it up.

[timbobagginsii]

Originally posted by emetib
don't know any german. friend from the island used to call people that along with wanker, and felcher (oops, maybe shouldn't have used that one, well who cares). the next time someone is being really a dumbass call them that, most people don't know what it is. i won't go into terminology on that one, so you'll have to look it up.
I'm afraid I have in the past taken great delight in sickening my friends and housemates with the details of that particular nasty. They'd hit me if I so much as even thought it of them.

[emetib]

i've called a couple of people that over the years and they don't have the slightest idea. someone once did ask me what it was, they weren't very amused once they knew the answer.

maybe that's what we should start to call the infidels.

[timbobagginsii]

Only those persistent in heresy.
Give 'em a chance to convert first...