Housemate and Roommate Conflict Resources

It is important to understand and discuss boundaries early on with the people you’ll be living with. While you may not become best friends, you should have a respectful relationship with one another. Below are some tips to build a civil relationship with your room/suite/housemates as well as resources to help get the conversation started. 

Roommate Agreement Forms:

Interests and Background: What music do they listen to? What shows do they watch, or hobbies do they have? Do they have preferred pronouns or any allergies?

Responsibilities: Discuss shared responsibilities such as cleaning the bathroom and taking out the trash. Making a calendar or list can be helpful in setting a routine and holding each other accountable.

Personal Items: What personal items are off-limits? What items can be shared? Can guests use those items? How do you feel about sharing clothes/shoes?

Emotions: How do you express your emotions? How do you act when sad, angry, or stressed? What do you do to cheer up?

Quiet Hours: What hours and days should be set aside for study time? Is low background music allowed while studying? At what time do you expect to sleep and wake up? Do you take naps? If yes, when?

Agree on Guests: What times are best for guest visits and are guests allowed to stay overnight? How many guests may you have at a time? Are guests allowed to remove facial coverings? Acknowledge that you're responsible for your guest(s) behavior.

How to Approach Conflict: Through notes? Face-to-Face speaking? On-campus residents, would you like the RA to be there for mediation? If off-campus, would you like a neutral third-party mediator?