Student survival guide: Avoiding the flatmates from hell

By JOHN BRIDGES

The flatmate whose idea of cleaning up is to throw his rubbish out the window; the control freak who cleans everything; and the girl who has just shot through without paying her share of the bills ...

Getting mismatched flatmates is a nightmare, so it pays to be careful about whom you team up with and what arrangements are made.

As Waikato University accommodation adviser Rosina Jenkins says, you may be bosom buddies but you don't really know someone until you live with them. In fact, rather than run the risk of upsetting a friendship, it may be better to go flatting with someone you don't know. At least you will be starting from scratch.

Apart from personality clashes, problems can range from unexpectedly high power and toll bills to hassles over food, living standards and chores.

Both Waikato and Auckland Universities suggest flatmates enter into a written flat-sharing agreement. Jenkins says this does not have to be too formal, but everyone should know where they stand.

The agreement can help to establish who does what, who holds the lease and whether expenses such as rent and food are met from a pool or individually.

Dylan Keating, Unitec's student union events co-ordinator, says that as far as basic housekeeping goes, the kitty system has worked best for him. But, having been a head lessee, he cautions others in the same boat to spread the burden of responsibility.

One suggestion is to ask a couple of other flatmates to have the power and phone accounts in their names. Another is to ask all flatmates for a bond, so that if someone does not pay their rent, the lessee is covered. Steer clear, he says, of being stuck with the lot.

An alternative is to have all flatmates sign the lease, making each one a tenant with full tenancy rights and obligations. Everyone who has signed will be liable for the whole of the rent and any damage.

Jenkins warns not to sign anything you are even remotely unsure of. If you have any doubt about a tenancy agreement, take it to someone such as an on-campus student adviser. Beware of any landlord who won't let you take the agreement away.

Dianne Bailey, accommodation and international student officer at Massey University's Albany campus, says that while flatting is fun, it is invariably a big learning curve.

"I actually feel a bit sorry for kids out there in their first flatting situation. It's a lot to handle and it can be quite daunting."

Remember, says Auckland University's accommodation services manager, Raymond Wilde, that most landlords are looking for fixed-term leases. And whether that means 26 or 52 weeks, you will be paying rent even though you may only be in your flat during term.

You may have to provide your own furniture and hire appliances such as a fridge, washing Machine and clothes drier. You could buy them, but that might cause problems when the flat disbands.

Remember, too, that flatting costs more than living at home. In Auckland, you can expect to pay about $110 weekly for a room and in Hamilton about $70. Food alone can cost at least $50 a week, and that assumes you are a reasonable cook and all meals are prepared at home.

Including rent, basic living cost estimates for a student flatting with three others range from $185 a week to $215. And while that allows for public transport, it does not cover any vehicle expenses (allow $500 a year minimum for maintenance alone). Neither does it include insurance for personal effects and equipment - an important item in a shared household with comings, goings and parties.

When it comes to choosing a flat, not to mention flatmates, Massey University's suggested checklist asks: "Can you afford it? Is the room big enough for you and your gear? Does everyone else share your ideas about housework? Will your belongings be secure? You may be a smoker, allergic to cats or a vegetarian. How will this limit your options?"

If you decide that sharing a house is not for you, the alternatives range from campus-controlled accommodation, such as halls of residence, to commercially run apartments catering for students. In both cases, however, you have to be in quick.

By the end of January, campus-owned or managed accommodation at Auckland and Waikato Universities, Unitec, Auckland University of Technology and Massey's Albany campus was fully booked.

* For the last word on flat sharing and renting, visit Tenancy Services