You’re always taking a chance when living with a roommate. While many roommate situations work out splendidly, a fair number of them turn sour. There are a number of reasons these situations go south – noise pollution, lack of financial dependability and broken boundaries, to name a few. Of course, this isn’t to say that every conflict you have with your roommate is a deal-breaker. While it’s true that some roommate situations are unsalvageable, others can be mended – provided sufficient effort is expended. Anyone having trouble with an inconsiderate roomie can benefit from the following pointers.
Communicate Clearly
Expecting your roommate to read your mind can quickly drive a wedge in your relationship. If he or she frequently engages in behaviors that impact you negatively, make them aware of this instead of being passive-aggressive or remaining silent. While there’s no guarantee that speaking to your roomie face-to-face will cause them to change their tune, this approach ensures that your grievances are out in the open and that any ambiguity is erased. Texting complaints to your roommate and leaving angry notes for them are poor substitutes for being direct and honest. Additionally, when having this conversation, make a point of maintaining a calm and measured tone.
Practice What You Preach
If you want your roommate to stop engaging in certain behaviors, you’ll need to lead by example. This means keeping your noise levels in check, cleaning up after yourself and having your half of the rent ready on the first of every month. Some people dealing with inconsiderate roommates make the mistake of trying to fight fire with fire. Instead of setting a good example, they replicate the undesirable traits displayed by their roomies in the hope of teaching them a lesson. However, more often than not, this leads to further aggression.
Threaten to Leave
If tensions between you and your roommate have reached a fever pitch, it’s important to realize that you have options. If your roomie absolutely refuses to work with you, threatening to move out may be your last resort. Alternatively, if yours is the only name on the lease, consider asking them to leave. In many cases, knowing that you mean business will prompt disagreeable roommates to rethink their behavior and fall in line.
Renters on the hunt for apartment to lease should research each building’s policies on roommate disputes. This will provide you with a solid understanding of the options tenants have at their disposal when dealing with an inconsiderate roomie.
There are a number of benefits to cohabitating with a roommate. Having extra money in your pocket and someone to split the chores with can provide tremendous peace of mind and increase one’s financial stability. However, as is the case with any relationship, maintaining a friendly rapport with your roomie takes work. In the absence of proper communication and clear boundaries, even the rosiest roommate arrangement can quickly take a tur. If you and your roomie have consistently found yourselves at odds, don’t hesitate to put the previously discussed tips to good use.