The unwritten rules of flat-ministration

Nothing tests tolerance levels more than the warzone that is the washing machine. Don’t use it too much or too little (both will raise questions about your hygiene). Don’t leave laundry in for too long or dump someone else’s clothes in a soggy heap. And don’t be the one who never buys detergent.

There’s a reason why landlords don’t like pets. And when those cute little kittens your flatmate brought home grow up to be house-ruling, mouse-gifting, territory-marking menaces, you’ll understand why.

You’d think a sex-toy stash would be regarded as personal and out of bounds. Not so. One drunken male flatmate might have come across our female flatmate’s collection. He might have thought it was funny if he and his friends used them as swords in a play fight. She might have seen this play out in a Facebook album an hour later. The lesson? Respect privacy (and get a lock for your drawer).

Love a cheeky burst of heating when no one’s at home? Come on, we’ve all done it. Just don’t forget to turn the thermostat back down. Unless you’re a fan of listening to lectures on electric bills.