It’s common to hear young adults wanting to have space of their own. However, not all friendships can withstand the test of renting an apartment together. Think you know your friend well? Wait till you encounter issues like these:
1. Spending excessive time in the toilet
Time in the bathroom is everything, especially for a woman. And when you’re rushing to get ready for work, it’s a huge problem if someone hogs the only toilet in the apartment.
There are people who enjoy taking long baths, using their phone, or applying their make-up in there. To prevent any conflicts or misunderstanding, make sure to communicate with your friend. If possible, try to agree on a time schedule (e.g. the toilet is yours between 8.10 to 8.20 am, when you’re rushing for work).
2. Bringing over “plus ones” all the time
There will be days when your friend’s significant other stays over because “it’s too late for him to head home” or “his home is too far away”. But if this becomes a frequent occurrence, you’re effectively living with one extra person.
That’s one more person using the toilet, the washing machine, the light and air-conditioning, etc. And that extra person isn’t contributing to the rent.
It’s smart move to set some ground rules against this, before moving in together (even if your friend doesn’t have a significant other right now).
3. Being unnecessarily calculative
Living together may mean having to share the cost of water bills, internet bills, power bills, and so forth. This can already be confusing at the start. What’s worse is when your friend is an extremely calculative person.
What happens when if you agree to split the utility bills, but then she complains that you use way more electricity as compared to her? Or if she nitpicks on how often you wash your laundry compared to her?
Giving and taking is important when you live together. Sometimes, it can be impossible to split everything fairly. It’s best to avoid moving in with someone who doesn’t understand that.
4. Failing to clean up after themselves
You’d think that it is common sense for people to clean up after themselves, but no. Some people prefer to live in a clean and neat house, while others like to be in an organised mess. On the other end of the spectrum, some people will call you at 3 pm to come back from work, and hang your laundry in a more systematic manner (and while you’re at it, please arrange your books in alphabetical order).
The neater person will often end up doing extra housework, which can be unfair. And remember that if someone attracts bedbugs or cockroaches, you have to live in the same house with them.
Personal space management and hygiene (or the perceived lack of it) are common sources of fights. You might want to try and pick a friend that has a similar standard of hygiene as yourself.
5. Party Animal versus Party Pooper
Personality clashes ensue, when two very different people share a common space.
If you’re a party pooper, it would be wise to choose a friend who also enjoys the same lifestyle. If you do rent an apartment with a party animal, be prepared for to be woken at two in the morning, or called to receive a drunk friend at your doorstep.
Also, if there are run-ins with the security guards or landlords over loud parties, remember you’ll get into trouble too (your names are both on the Tenancy Agreement). Also, any damage to the property from Beer Pong / Sofa Diving / other drunken games will come out of the security deposit – that means you could end up paying for it, even if you weren’t responsible.
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