TasklyFamilyHouse rules for a shared flat
Most arguments in a shared flat aren’t about big problems but small things nobody agreed on: the dishes, the bins, the bathroom. These are the rules worth talking through on day one.
1. Cleaning and chores
- Everyone cleans up after themselves straight away: dishes, worktop, shower.
- Shared areas (bathroom, kitchen, living room, hallway) are split by rota or by points.
- Bins and recycling: fixed days and who takes care of them.
- A weekly deep clean on an agreed day.
2. Shared spaces and shared things
- What’s shared (oil, salt, toilet paper, cleaning products) and how it gets restocked.
- What’s personal (fridge shelf, kitchen cupboard).
- The living room isn’t storage: nothing personal stays there more than a day.
3. Noise, rest and guests
- Quiet hours on weekdays (for example, 11 pm to 8 am).
- Give notice if someone is staying over, and how far in advance.
- Parties: only if everyone agrees.
4. Bills
- How electricity, water, internet and shared shopping are split.
- One person or one app keeps track, reviewed every month.
A template to agree on them
Meet for 20 minutes, go through these four blocks and write down what you agree somewhere everyone can see. Review it after a month: whatever doesn’t work gets changed, no blame.
What fails most: chores
Cleaning rules are the first to be forgotten, because nobody wants to be “the one keeping score”. That’s why it works to let an app keep score and make the split fair and visible: who did what, how many points and who buys the pizzas this week.
FAQ
Which rules are essential in a shared flat?
Cleaning shared areas, taking out the bins, quiet hours, guests and splitting bills. These are the topics that cause most arguments if nobody talks about them.
How do you split cleaning fairly in a shared flat?
With rotating rotas or a points system where each chore is worth its effort. An app that records it avoids arguments about who did what.