Living in a shared house or HMO can definitely come with its fair share of challenges! Here are a few horror stories that I’ve heard or experienced:
The Mysterious Mess: One time, we had a housemate who consistently left the kitchen in a disastrous state—dirty dishes piled up, food spills everywhere, and the trash overflowing. After weeks of cleaning up after them without any change, we finally confronted them. Turns out, they just didn’t see the mess because they were used to living in clutter!
The Noisy Neighbor: We had a housemate who worked odd hours and would come home late, blasting music and having loud phone conversations in the middle of the night. It became a nightly battle between trying to sleep and hearing their antics through the walls.
Hygiene Horror: One roommate refused to clean their bathroom for months. It reached a point where the smell wafted into the common areas. When we finally confronted them, they claimed it was “natural” and didn’t see the problem.
The Phantom Food Thief: Food theft was rampant in our shared fridge. I tried labeling my groceries, but they kept mysteriously disappearing. In the end, we set up a hidden camera just to keep track. It turned out our “always-hungry” housemate was the culprit, and it led to quite the dramatic confrontation!
The Drama King/Queen: One housemate loved to stir up drama. Every little disagreement turned into a massive confrontation. They thrived on chaos and had a knack for making minor issues feel like life-or-death situations, which made living there quite stressful.
The Forgotten Pets: We had a housemate who decided to adopt a puppy without consulting anyone. While it was adorable, the lack of training and the incessant barking made it hard for the rest of us to work or relax at home.
While these stories are funny (in hindsight), they definitely taught me a lot about communication and setting boundaries in shared living situations! What are some of your stories?
Living in a shared house or HMO can definitely come with its fair share of challenges! Here are a few horror stories that I’ve heard or experienced:
The Mysterious Mess: One time, we had a housemate who consistently left the kitchen in a disastrous state—dirty dishes piled up, food spills everywhere, and the trash overflowing. After weeks of cleaning up after them without any change, we finally confronted them. Turns out, they just didn’t see the mess because they were used to living in clutter!
The Noisy Neighbor: We had a housemate who worked odd hours and would come home late, blasting music and having loud phone conversations in the middle of the night. It became a nightly battle between trying to sleep and hearing their antics through the walls.
Hygiene Horror: One roommate refused to clean their bathroom for months. It reached a point where the smell wafted into the common areas. When we finally confronted them, they claimed it was “natural” and didn’t see the problem.
The Phantom Food Thief: Food theft was rampant in our shared fridge. I tried labeling my groceries, but they kept mysteriously disappearing. In the end, we set up a hidden camera just to keep track. It turned out our “always-hungry” housemate was the culprit, and it led to quite the dramatic confrontation!
The Drama King/Queen: One housemate loved to stir up drama. Every little disagreement turned into a massive confrontation. They thrived on chaos and had a knack for making minor issues feel like life-or-death situations, which made living there quite stressful.
The Forgotten Pets: We had a housemate who decided to adopt a puppy without consulting anyone. While it was adorable, the lack of training and the incessant barking made it hard for the rest of us to work or relax at home.
While these stories are funny (in hindsight), they definitely taught me a lot about communication and setting boundaries in shared living situations! What are some of your stories?