Roommate Conflict Tips

How to talk to your Roommate

Roommate relationships are the foundations for community development. It is not necessary to be best friends or share every aspect of college life together, but it is important that roommates respect each other's rights. Developing a positive relationship is a process; it does not happen over night and takes effort. Although, this page is not meant to be a comprehensive guide to roommate relationships, here are some proactive steps you can take to help build that successful relationship.

Building successful roommate relationships:
A step-by-step approach

I. Get to know your roommate
Ask questions that will help you learn about each other and build on your similarities. Some specific topics can be discussed that will open the door to a greater understanding of each other.

Where are you from?
What is your family like?
What are your favorite things to do?
What is your major?

II. Talk about expectations of each other.

Now that you know a little about your roommate as a person, it is time to talk about expectations and set some guidelines for living in the same room or apartment. Be open with your needs, but also be willing to compromise. Discuss these issues that roommates typically disagree about before they become significant. Here some common issues:

Alcohol Use
Cleanliness
Computer Use
Guests
Music/Noise
Safety & Security
Telephone Use
Schedules
Study Habits
Use of Property

Once you have talked about these issues you can get an Apartment Living or Roommate Agreement Form from your RA, HD, or AC to record the agreements you reach.

Cleaning:
How neat/clean are you used to keeping your room?
How will housekeeping duties be shared?
How would you like the room arranged and decorated?

Borrowing:
What items are you comfortable sharing and what would you prefer not to be borrowed or used? Will you share food and drinks costs? Do you mind if guests use items in the room? Do you prefer to be asked before someone borrows something?

Study Time:
What time do you typically study?
Can you study with the TV or radio on? With visitors in the room?

Sleeping:
What time do you typically go to bed or get up in the morning?
Are you a heavy or light sleeper?
Can you sleep with the TV or radio on? With visitors in the room?

Roommate Conflict Tips

If the agreements you and your roommate reach now break down later, speak up! There are ways to complain without alienating your rommmate(s). Here are some basic rules for talking about the conflicts that may come up during the year:

State issues directly; speak to your roommate neutrally while still relaying your feelings.

Be calm and cool. When you lose your temper, you might also lose the opportunity to resolve your differences.

Use statements that begin with "I". For example, say "I get really upset when you don't clean the dishes," instead of "You never clean up after yourself!" This was, your roommate(s) can see the direct connection between their actions and your reactions. Make sure to be careful, though, that this doesn't degenerate into "I'm sick and tired of . . ."

Be careful not to make accusations like "You couldn't care less about how I feel!" This will only make your roommate defensive. Talk about specific behaviors, not a person's character.

Put yourself in your roommate's shoes, treating them as you would like to be treated. Before you make any demands, think about how you would react to such demands.

Be willing to offer solutions and compromise, including revising your Roommate Living Agreement.

Seeking Assistance

If a solution cannot be reached by the roommates, the next step is to ask Residence Life staff for help or mediation. Resident Assistants, Hall Directors, and Area Coordinators have all been well trained to serve as impartial mediators. Roommate transfers are only used after other methods of resolving conflict have been tried. Transfers are granted at the discretion of Residence Life Senior Staff (Hall Directors and Area Coordinators) and are based on space availability.

Other Roommate Resources

  Georgetown's comprehensive health site, be.georgetown.edu, also offers information on how to resolve roommate conflicts.

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Meet your RA/AM

  If you're having a roommate concern, the first step is to speak with your roommate.  After that, please contact the student staff member for your floor.

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