Our guide to sharing a flat with other students

Living in halls will put strangers together in shared spaces, creating an instant community where personal habits meet communal responsibility.

Creating a happy environment depends on mastering the everyday details—locking doors, cleaning up, respecting flatmates, and knowing your fire exits. These simple actions will be the basis of living in a hall, yet they're often the first to be forgotten when stress and homesickness kicks in.

Coexisting will be inevitable and there are some important lessons to be learned, so here's our tips to create a happy hall life. 🏠

Tips for a happy hall life 🥳

1) Respect your flatmates 🫶🏽

Everyone has different habits, so respect each other’s living space and be as tidy as you can. If you're sharing a kitchen, it's a good idea to use a cleaning rota to help divide responsibilities equitably. You can get a template from the Halls Life or your on-site residence team — be sure to pick one up!

2) Get to know your on-site residence team 

Speak to the team if you have any problems. They’ll be able to deal with things quickly for you.

3) Be careful when cooking 🍳

Make sure you turn the cooker off when you’ve finished and don’t leave any pans unsupervised.

4) Keep yourself and your things safe 🔐

Be alert and make sure you lock your door when you’re leaving your room. Always close the door behind you when you come into the building.

5) Know your fire exits 🧯

You’ll be given clear instructions of your building’s fire escape plan—memorise it and know your nearest exit.