There's nothing worse than getting into a sticky situation with your housemates. You have to live with these people! From not paying their share in rent to using your things without asking, we've got you covered! Check out our list of common housemate issues and how to best address and resolve them.

1. How to address common
housemate issues

2. There is nothing worse than getting into a
sticky situation with your housemates. After
all, you have to live with these people! If
they don’t pay for their share of the bills or
use your things without asking, it can be
uncomfortable to even be
in the same room.
RENT DUE

3. But before you reach for the boxes and
packing tape (ain’t nobody got time
to move), check out these 10 common
housemate issues and helpful tips to
overcome them.
RENT DUE

4. #1 TAKING WITHOUT
ASKING

5. #1
The situation:
Your housemate is forever borrowing your stuff without
asking your permission. They assume it won’t be an
issue and regularly help themselves to your hairdryer,
food and even your clothes!
Taking without asking

6. #1
The solution:
The worst thing you can do in this situation is to bottle
up your frustration. You might end up losing your
temper over something trivial and causing a bigger
problem.
Talk openly and fairly to your housemate and explain
that while you’re happy to share your stuff, you’d
appreciate them asking permission before taking any
of your items. If they ignore your request, invest in
lockable containers!
Taking without asking

7. #2 Not paying
their share

8. RENT DUE
#2
The situation:
One of your housemates is a total shopaholic, yet
whenever the rent and bills are due they can never
afford to pay their share.
You’re forced to chip in so that the payment deadlines
aren’t missed, but you can’t afford to keep paying
someone else’s share.
Not paying their share

9. RENT DUE
#2
Not paying their share
The solution:
Make a ‘just in case’ jar and ask each housemate to put
in $10 a week as a back up fund for bills and rent. That
way you won’t have to be chasing up your housemates
(or chipping in extra out of your own pocket) if
someone falls short when payments are due. Also, offer
to help your housemate with their budget, or suggest
budgeting apps that they can use to get their
spending sorted.
If the issue continues, it’s time for a tough conversation.
Freeloading is a deal breaker!

10. Clear communication will help to
clear up housemate problems.

11. #3 Lack of
cleanliness

12. #3
The situation:
Your housemate is a great guy, but you’re fed up with
having to clean up after him! He leaves dirty dishes in
the sink for days, never sweeps the floor and leaves the
bathroom in a mess.
Lack of cleanliness

13. #3
The solution:
The key to solving this problem is to be upfront and deal
with it straight away before it escalates and leads to
resentment. Explain to your housemate that you’re not
okay living in a messy house and that you’d appreciate if
he could contribute to keeping things clean.
You could suggest one day per week when you all do
the cleaning together, or create a roster so that the
tasks are evenly shared. Nobody wants to live with
someone who acts like their mother, but a clear
plan will help keep everyone accountable.
Lack of cleanliness

14. Did you know:
If you ever have any questions or concerns about
your rights and responsibilities as a renter, you can
contact the Residential Tenancies Authority?
Find out more about the information and services
the RTA provide by visiting their website.

15. #4 Someone
wants to leave

16. #4
The situation:
You moved in with friends at the beginning of the
year and you’ve all had a great time living together.
Now, with two months left on the lease, one of your
housemates announces they are moving out.
The additional share of rent for the remaining two
months is more than you and your other housemates
can afford to cover. What can you do?
Someone wants to leave

17. #4
The solution:
The Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) states
that if a tenant breaks a lease they may have to pay
compensation and/or any remaining rent until the end
of the lease. In other words, even though your friend is
leaving, they still have a responsibility to cover their rent
for the next two months.
If they can’t afford to keep paying their share, it is their
responsibility to find someone else to take over their
part of the lease agreement.
For more information about moving out, visit the RTA website.
Someone wants to leave

18. #5 You’re having
issues with
the landlord

19. You’re having issues with the landlord
#5
The situation:
Since moving in at the start of the semester, you and
your housemates have discovered things broken and
not working properly in your apartment. You’ve asked
the landlord several times to arrange for maintenance
and repairs, but months later nothing has been fixed.

20. For more information about rights and responsibilities of tenants and lessors visit the RTA website.
For more information about lodging a Notice to remedy breach (Form 11) click here.
#5
The solution:
While you don’t want to create issues with your landlord,
you are paying to live in the property so you’re entitled
to push for these maintenance tasks to be completed.
The RTA states that landlords are responsible for
keeping their properties in good condition and fit for
residents to live in, so if repairs haven’t been organised
within a reasonable amount of time, you have the
option to lodge a ‘Notice to remedy breach (Form 11)’
to prompt a response from your landlord within the
specified timeframe.
You’re having issues with the landlord

21. Clear communication will help to
clear up housemate problems.

22. #6 Your
housemate won’t
help with the
preparation for
house inspections

23. The situation:
Whenever your regular house inspection comes around,
one of your housemates pulls a disappearing act and is
hardly ever home. You and your other housemates are
forced to pick up the slack and organise everything that
needs to be done beforehand.
Your housemate won’t help with the
preparation for house inspections
#6

24. The solution:
Instead of waiting until you receive your next inspection
notice, talk to your housemate now about their lack
of contribution and the extra work it creates for others
in the house. By addressing the problem proactively,
you’ll have plenty of time to plan ahead for the next
inspection and make sure everyone is clear on what
tasks they’re responsible for.
Don’t forget to tidy up outdoors too!
Your housemate won’t help with the
preparation for house inspections
#6

25. Did you know:
The average roommate in Australia is 27 years old
and the demand for share housing is on the rise.*
*2015, Flatmates.com.au and Domain.com.au

26. #7 Damage
to personal
belongings or
property

27. The situation:
Your housemate had some friends over for a party on
the weekend. You were fine with them coming over,
but you now discover that they’ve broken your sound
system and there’s a hole in the bathroom wall.
You’re furious with your housemate and worried about
how your landlord will react. What should you do and
who will pay for the repairs?
Damage to personal belongings or property
#7

28. The solution:
The RTA states that both residents and their guests are
responsible for looking after the property. Seeing as it
was your housemate’s friends who caused the damage,
it is his responsibility to inform the landlord of the
damage and to pay for the repairs.
As for your sound system, explain to your housemate
that you expect him to pay for it to be repaired or
replaced and negotiate a timeframe for this to happen.
For more information about repair responsibilities visit the RTA website.
Damage to personal belongings or property
#7

29. Clear communication will help to
clear up housemate problems.

30. #8 Disregarding
house rules

31. #8
house
rules
The situation:
When you first moved in, all of you agreed to some
basic house rules, but lately one of your housemates
hasn’t been keeping up their end of the deal. You’re
not comfortable with some of their behaviour and are
annoyed that they’re disregarding the rules you all
agreed on together.
Disregarding house rules

32. #8
The solution:
You need to speak up before the situation becomes
unbearable. Try to make the meeting as informal as
possible so that your housemate doesn’t feel like
they’re being cornered and become defensive before
you can make progress in the conversation.
Explain how you feel and how it’s impacting you.
Offer to revisit the house rules together so that you’re
all clear on where you stand. If your housemate no
longer agrees to the rules or wants to renegotiate
them, explain that you’d appreciate that being a shared
conversation where you can all have input, instead of
your housemate choosing to disregard the
rules altogether.
Disregarding house rules
house
rules

33. #9 You’re caught
in the middle of a
housemate fight

34. #9
!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!
The situation:
Two of your housemates have had a falling out and
it’s made things tense around the house for over a
week. You’re feeling the pressure to take sides and
the stress of the situation is starting to interfere with
your study and your sleep. You just want everyone to
get along again!
You’re caught in the middle of a
housemate fight

35. #9
The solution:
Get everyone together in a common room of the
house and explain that you’re sick of being caught
in the middle and that the problem needs to be
resolved, now. Let each person tell their side of the
story and explain their feelings. Then, see if you can
work as the mediator to help them reach a solution.
Living with other people means that at some stage,
everyone in the house needs to learn to compromise.
Once a solution has been reached, make it clear that
the argument is over and needs to be left at that.
You’re caught in the middle of a
housemate fight
!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!

36. Did you know:
The rules in Queensland might be different from
those in other states or countries?
To make sure you don’t get caught out, visit the
Residential Tenancies Authority website.

37. #10 Lack of
understanding for
‘personal space’

38. #10
The situation:
Your housemate is a total people person, while you
tend to prefer your own space. Whenever you’re
watching a movie, studying or just having some ‘me
time’, your housemate constantly joins in and is keen
for a chat. How can you explain your need for personal
space without hurting their feelings?
Lack of understanding for
‘personal space’

39. #10
The solution:
Sit down with your housemate and explain why alone
time is important to you and that while you enjoy their
company, you also need some time and space just for you.
As a compromise, offer to schedule in some movie
time or an activity that you can do together during
the week. You could also try our downloadable door
hangers to make it clear to your roommate the times
when you’re not keen for company.
Lack of understanding for
‘personal space’

40. Clear communication will help to
clear up housemate problems.

41. Housemate issues are common, but they’re not
impossible to overcome! By using these tips and
communicating clearly with your housemates, you
can navigate sticky situations and get back to a
great living situation.

42. If you’re having trouble with your housemates that
you just can’t resolve, the team at Student Services
can help. You can also chat to a welfare expert for
information and advice on solving your situation.
CRICOS QLD 00244B NSW 02225M • TEQSA PRV12081 8.2.D 11.2016