As a young person in India, Delhi is one of the best places for you to live, whether you’re a student or a young professional. So, if you’ve just moved into a fully furnished flat for rent in Delhi, ready to take on the challenges and opportunities that the city throws at you, you’ve made a great choice. But tackling life in a new city on your own can be a little difficult, which is why you might want some company to help you figure things out. Living with a flatmate is sure to make it easier for you to adjust to the city (and minimize your expenses) right? Well, that’s usually true, but if you’ve never shared your space with a stranger before, living with a flatmate can also take some getting used to. You might have a lot of questions on your mind. How do you go from flatmates to friends? What are the dos and don’ts of sharing a flat? How do you set boundaries? Well, if you’ve got these and more questions on your mind, don’t worry. We’re here to help you out. Here are some of the most important things you should know about living with flatmates in Delhi.
Finding a flatmate
As someone who’s new to Delhi, finding a flatmate yourself can be a little tricky. So, you need to use your network of friends and relatives to help you out. This will be a lot safer and more reliable than putting up an ad on the internet or living with a complete stranger. If you’re a student or a young professional, you’re bound to encounter a lot of other young migrants to Delhi who might also be looking for flatmates. So, reach out to some of these people, see who you vibe with and ask some relevant questions to get to know them better (more on that below).
Get to know each other
Living together is an intimate business, so you want to share a certain level of comfort with the person that you live with. So, it’s important to get to know your flatmate as a person. Share a little bit about yourself and your background and ask them about their hobbies and interests too. You could end up having a lot in common or introducing each other to new things. Try to schedule some time together each week so that you can foster your bond and sense of connection and create a strong flatmate relationship. Something simple like having a meal together or heading to the grocery store every week can go a long way towards helping you stay up-to-date on each other’s lives.
Ground rules are important
Living with a flatmate can be a lot of fun provided that everyone’s boundaries are respected. This means that it’s important to set them in the first place. Go over what’s okay and what’s off-limits with your flatmate right at the time of moving on so that you can start your relationship with open and honest communication. Ask them about their ground rules too. See what you’re okay with sharing, how you’re going to divide the chores and split the bills, and any other logistical quirks that need to be worked out. Sorting these out in your initial weeks is going to save you a lot of stress and hassle in the future.
Swap schedules
Since you and your flatmate are both likely to be new to Delhi, you’ll inevitably end up being a sort of security net for each other. And to ensure that you’ve got each other’s backs, it’s a good idea to swap schedules with each other. This will help you know where your flatmate is in case of emergencies. It’ll also help you both keep track of when you have the flat to yourself for some alone time, and when you can be sure to expect company. This is a lot easier than having to update your flatmate every time you have an early meeting or class and need to use the shower first.
Be respectful
Just because you and your flatmate are sharing a furnished flat on rent in Delhi doesn’t mean that you share the same upbringing. Which means that you’re bound to have different habits and values. And these differences can lead to a bit of friction at times. But understanding and respecting those differences is going to save you a whole lot of frustration and annoyance. As long as you are not being inconvenienced, it’s alright to live and let live. Try to be respectful at all times and considerate of your flatmate’s needs and your relationship will certainly flourish.
These simple tips for living with flatmates will make your life in Delhi a whole lot easier. So, go ahead and try them out.
