So you’ve just started University and started to settle in a little bit, getting to know the people around you a little better, so much that you cannot believe you’ve only known them for a few months. However, talk of housing for next year is an underlying topic among many flats or friendship groups. If there are just clear divides between groups and everyone is happy with living with each other then that’s perfect, but that’s not often how social relationships work out, leading to arguments and debates about who to live with in second year.

My flat, like many of yours I’m sure, had couples and friendship groups and ties. This strongly influenced the flats, with the two couples naturally wanting to live together. However, this carries further complexities and problems when deciding housing arrangements. Politics was what chose our house, rather than solid friendships. You may see this in your own flats, as the people who you are close with are friends with different flatmates, leading to no clear group to live with in second year. In my case, I ended up with only one of the people I was close to in my first year flat. I was extremely disappointed. I approached second year feeling that I may spend more time with my friends from outside the flat.

This is not the case, as we have had not one argument and we all get on effortlessly well! This is to contrast with the other flats, which have experienced several arguments and exclusions from social activities. We still see the others and often invite each other around for pre-drinks, but are not required to enter any of their house arguments or politics. One of the boys from the other flat approached me the other day and admitted “Mate, we screwed up, I’m really sorry - it’d have been better to live with you if I’m honest”. A touching acknowledgement, but I’m much happier with this flat cheers pal.  And my house isn’t a dump like yours!

Obviously this is just my story, and yours is likely to be different. I do, however, expect that there will still be a high level of politics and tactics in choosing houses, so I’d like to leave you a few tips for picking houses:
Firstly, don’t choose flats too early ? Honestly you won’t get a better flat and you could be living with someone you realise that you really dislike by the second semester of first year.

Secondly, if politics do lead to living with individuals who you are not as close to, do not worry. In my experience, it has been a hidden gift.

Next, don’t judge people. I looked at people and made several judgements in first year which, yeah I keep to myself, but it’s still not fair or even necessarily representative. Maybe the quiet kid from Freshers’ Week is actually a class choice for a flatmate - considerate and reliable when sober and about as bashful as a tribal dance when drunk.

What I would say, is that you have far more responsibility. This is your home, your flat or house, which you have to clean and live in. The first year messiness must subside, at least a little anyway. This means that people who you know may get on your nerves due to messiness will annoy you ten times more in second year if you do decide to live with them.

But in the end of the day, if you are worrying about who you’re going to live with next year, don’t. It may be that those who it has worked out seemingly perfectly for won’t be as pleased with the outcome as you.