4 Steps to Deal With a Bad Roommate

Everyone has either had one, or has known someone who has. A bad roommate can ruin even the best of college experiences. Use these four tips to deal with a bad roommate:

1. Inform Them of the Problem

It may be awkward if you just signed your roommate agreement, but the problem won’t go away by itself.  It is important to state what the problem is, to your roommate, and also keep the conversation serious. A sink full of dirty dishes or a wet bathroom floor, every day, is no laughing matter. Hopefully, after hearing how their habits bother you, they will be more respectful of the space you both share.

2. Monitor the Problem

Now it is time to watch and see if they took your conversation seriously. Over the next few days, after informing them of what the problem is, monitor their actions and make sure they are respecting the changes you suggested. If it’s the day after you talked to them and you notice something wrong, don’t freak out yet. Maybe this is the first time they have lived with another person If you don’t notice any changes in the next week after you discuss the problem, it is time to move on to the next step.

3. Inform a Management Figure

So they haven’t taken anything you have said seriously. It is time to inform someone who is more equipped to handle the problem. For example, if you live in campus housing, this may come in the form of an RA (Resident or Room advisor) or Living Quarter Coordinator (also known as a Head Resident or HR). In an off-campus situation, you may have to contact the apartment complex to find out who you should talk to about roommate problems. An RA or other management figure has more versatility, and more resources that can help get the problem solved fast and effectively.

4. Move Out

This is not the most ideal situation, and definitely one that requires a lease that is easily broken, but if you cannot find another option, this may be the best way to go. However, don’t skip straight to this option. Either talking to your roommate directly or informing a management figure may give you the solution you desire. If you have already followed steps one through three, and nothing has been resolved, moving out may be the next step. If it does come to such a drastic step, make sure you check your lease for important information and fees that would be charged to your account in the event of a lease interruption.

Good luck!

Dealing with a bad roommate can be stressful, but ignoring the problem will only make it escalate even more. If you have a bad roommate and are looking to change things, follow these steps, and hopefully they will provide you with some much-needed results. Most importantly, don’t let the bad roommate walk all over you. It is your home, too.