Have you recently had a rant on our Housing and Rent survey? Mid semester means you’re at the stage with your house mates where you either really like them, or you really don’t like them. Not getting on with your house mates isn’t a great place to be, so here are five ways you can keep your house harmonious.

1. Don't let the bins overflow.

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Have you ever gone to put something in the bin, but it’s so full that the lid doesn’t shut, and all you can smell is gone off food? Yeah. Don’t be that person. Take your bins out if you fill it up.

2. Don't leave pasta in the sink...

It seems as though every student who has lived in student accommodation has a horror story about someone leaving food in the sink. Scrape food into the bin (which you nicely emptied) first before you wash your dishes.

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On that note, be tidy in general. No one wants to have to scrape your Bolognese off the hob because you couldn’t be bothered to do it. And if you aren’t going to do your dishes anytime soon, keep them out of sight, preferably in your room. Not only are they an eyesore, they stink. Just be clean – that way no one can complain, and there will be no arguments.

3. Ask before throwing a party

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Most students love to throw parties, or at least to have friends round. But if you know you’re going to be causing a lot of noise, at least let your house mates know. And if they ask you to turn the music down, or be quieter, then you really should. It’s not just your house, and in order to remain civil with everyone, you need to respect their wishes too.

4. Use your own milk

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Don’t be that person that steals peoples’ food. Imagine going to put milk on your cereal to find that you’re out of milk, when you know you had enough yesterday. If you need something, either buy it yourself, or ask someone if you can borrow theirs. You definitely shouldn’t use someone’s pots and pans and then leave it without washing it up! This is a sure way to cause chaos among your house mates.

5. Be nice!

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At the end of the day, you’re going to be living with these people for at least a year. Being friendly makes things a lot easier. If you have a problem with someone, talk to them about it – it’s a lot easier than shouting, and they’re more likely to listen to you.

Living with other students doesn’t have to be a nightmare – it can be a great experience. Following these tips will help you in keeping your house harmonious.