Living with Others

Set the Stage Within Your Space: Have the Conversation

We hope all Sacred Heart students develop positive relationships with their peers; and that includes with their housemates. Before you sign a lease together, we recommend you have important conversations with your potential roommates to ensure you are on the same page.

• Communication is key: Be clear on your expectations from day one
• Discuss the lease term: Though many students leave for the summer, most leases are 12-month contracts. Are all roommates responsible for utilities and other expenses during the summer months when they may not be in residence? Will you try to find a replacement roommate? Discuss your plan in advance of potential issues.
• Discuss utilities: How will they be split? What additional amenities do you want?
• Sharing versus off-limits: Will you share food, clothes, electronics, etc.? Who will clean & on what schedule?
• Make a cleaning agreement: Consider creating a schedule for household chores so there is a clear understanding of who is responsible for what and when
• Address concerns when they are little: Are your clothes being borrowed faster than you can wash them? Do you feel like you have another roommate because your housemate’s partner is always there? Addressing things that bother you while they are still little can help your housemate be aware of something he or she may not otherwise know. Addressing little things is much easier than addressing them after they have become big problems.