What to do if your new flatmates just aren’t your vibe

Ah, the flatmate lottery. We all go through it, we all dread it. There are always those lucky few who end up being gifted an incredible group of people, but that can’t be all of us who are blessed with that.

There’s almost always going to be at least one flatmate that you’d rather not spend time with, so we’ve created a trusty guide for how you can handle these situations.

Give everyone a chance

First of all, when it’s only the first week, make sure to give your flatmates a chance! As important as first impressions are, Freshers’ Week is a difficult week for everyone. For the first years, it’s quite likely that many students have never fended for themselves before and might not be the most sociable people out there.

Going from having the same friends since primary school to being chucked in a flat with 7-11 strangers is a huge jump, and it takes time, so be patient!

Having nothing in common

Not to invalidate whether you like your flatmates or not, but it’s not the end of the world if you and your flatmates don’t seem to have anything in common. You’re all in the same boat, living in the same flat, sharing the same university experience.

We’ve all had our first year flatmates stories and finding out who we all are, most flats would be the perfect cast for a sitcom because everyone is so different; regardless of variance, you can all find shared interests throughout the year. It’ll get much easier to discover things in common the more time you spend in Lancaster!

Keeping it civil

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If you do get to a point where the washing-up pile is stacking and you’re just over your flatmates, the most important thing you can do is to try not to make your flat a tense environment.

Your flat is a place for you to come home to and relax in after a long day, so if it starts to become an uncomfortable place, it will become a struggle to keep spirits high over the year. We’re not saying you can’t be a hater (we all are at times), but try and be a hater in private, don’t make it difficult for everyone else.

Find friends elsewhere

If your flatmates are still opps, try broadening your horizons. Unless you spend a lot of time in your kitchen, it’s actually quite unlikely you’ll spend a significant amount of time around your flatmates.

One of the best ways to find new friends is by joining a society! If you choose a society (like The Tab, for example) you’re interested in, the other people you meet must share that interest. What a place to start! Another way of finding new friends is through your degree. Not only does it mean that you have friends you can complain about your 9am seminars with, it also means you have a support system when it comes to exam season. So, it’s a win-win.

External support

If your flatmates have crossed a line, you don’t have to suffer alone!

If your flat experience gets too bad, every college has a support system to help make your life easier. Even if it’s just talking to a CCA (College Community Advisor) or member of the CAT (College Advisory Team), sometimes it’s good to just get things off your chest.

It’s only a matter of time

No matter how treacherous your flatmates make your time at uni, you have to keep in mind that time keeps ticking. People tend to say that uni rushes by in the blink of an eye, and this can completely work to your advantage!

You only really spend 7 months of the year at Lancaster, so just see your flat as a checkpoint to eat and sleep, you can still thoroughly enjoy your time at uni. And remember, you can leave them all in the dust next year.

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