You are coming to the end of your first year of university. It’s February – while October might seem a long way away, this late winter phase is prime season to choose next year’s student accommodation. Naturally, we want you to find your perfect student property on Pads for Student. But before you get to that stage, it’s important to choose the right housemates.

Living with Friends vs Course Mates?

One question you might consider is whether to live with friends who aren’t doing the same degree programme as you.

If you live only with friends, you have the risk of letting the social aspect of university distract you. However, life is usually much more bearable and the chances of living with someone you don’t like is much lower.

Choosing course mates makes study and revision easier and facilitates group projects. However, if your social lives are incompatible, it can lead to clashes.

Don’t Underestimate Money Issues

It is said that more relationships end due to money than any other reason. The same is true of friendship. If someone isn’t paying their way, doesn’t pay back a loan, or is shirking the bills and eating everyone else’s food, that will divide the friendship.

That stress can also work the other way. If one person has money issues that are no fault of their own (a loan didn’t come through, their parents separated and financial support ends) they may need some leeway. The longer that leeway goes on, there remains a strong chance that resentment will build all the while the housemate struggles with their personal and financial issues. Nobody is at fault, but the division may still arise.

Talk About Cleaning and Other Chores

If your course mate or friend lives a messy lifestyle in their official university digs, or a clean freak, there is nothing to suggest they will change between July and October. Compatibility is important on a range of things and aside from money – few things come higher on that list than cleaning and house chores: cooking, cleaning the oven, washing up, laundry to name some.

It’s easy to slip into bad habits and it’s easy for those who don’t do it to get away with not doing it. Similarly, those who hate to see mess will be of the opinion “if I don’t do it, it will just sit there indefinitely.” Resentment can build from that.

There are many things to consider when choosing housemates – it isn’t just about location, cost, and availability. Like any relationship where you’re going to live together, compatibility matters. It’s important to be on the right page for a harmonious nine months of living together.