Coliving Etiquette: A Guide For a Happy Community
15 Sept 2024
Having an etiquette guide for a happy coliving community is key to creating harmony in a shared space. In coliving you have people from various backgrounds, ages and cultures come together. Of course, this is amazing to learn more and to have a better world view. However, it is also natural that there may be clashes or misunderstandings due to different mannerism or interpretations of what is acceptable and what isn't. Although Casa Mia members tend to stay a little longer than other coliving operators, people tend to come and go a lot faster than in your ‘typical’ flatshare. All of these things combined, make it essential that members, as well as coliving managers to implement guides on etiquette for the homes to follow.
Rules aren't meant to make your coliving boring but are there to create a peaceful, fun and safe environment! At Casa Mia Coliving, we have 10 rules we want all of our members to follow; you can find them here! Some of the most important ones are also mentioned in the below blog, as well as some other suggestions. (Btw, this is the perfect guide to send to your housemates if there is a little tension.)
Respect your housemates
The first ‘rule’ is pretty simple and is also without a doubt the most important one. Respecting your housemates should be natural and should not require much explanation. Treat your housemates how you want to be treated and remember this home is shared, not just yours. Be aware of your housemates. For example, if someone is in their room reading, watching a movie or simply enjoying alone time, don’t disturb them with constant chatter. Ask them if they are free for a chat. Or, if you see one of your flatmates cleaning up after you in the kitchen, return the favour. Don’t get into a silly cycle of being petty; it doesn’t benefit anyone!
Clean up after yourself
Make sure to clean up after yourself! This applies to all of the shared spaces, such as the kitchen, living & dining room, as well as bathroom. Especially in countries such as Singapore, you want to make sure you keep the home nice and tidy to avoid any uninvited guests. This means cleaning up your dishes after you’ve used them, throwing away any food leftovers, making sure the bathroom is clean, as well as avoiding leaving personal belongings scattered around. Have a chat with your housemates if you feel someone isn't pulling their weight; it’s a team effort.
Quiet hours
At Casa Mia Coliving, we have implemented quiet hours. Before 9 am and after 10 pm, flatmates should try and make a conscious effort to be quiet around the home. Of course you can still continue with any of your normal activities (such as making coffee or showering) but just try and avoid doing things that may wake-up any housemates sleeping. For example, there is no need to unload the dishwasher at 7:00 am or watch a movie in the living room, full volume, at 11:30 pm. When you come home after a night- out, make sure to be quiet too, There is nothing more annoying than being woken up at 4 am by your drunk housemates attempting to cook post-party food.
Sharing is caring
This isn't a rule you have to follow but if you want to create a warm and homely environment, it may be good to keep in mind. Sharing is caring. You could agree to buy communal products for the home (such as salt & pepper, washing up liquid, soap, etc.). This is for you to decide with your housemates upon moving in :)
Guests
Many coliving members ask us whether they are allowed to have guests over. Of course, it is your home (some operators may see this differently but most will be okay for you to have guests over). Just remember, you have housemates. This means making sure your guests follow the same rules you do and respect quiet hours. Always ask your flatmates before you have guests staying over and if they are overnight guests, ask your housemates if they'd be okay for them to stay for a while. Your guests are not your housemates' guests. They should not prevent your housemates' ability to enjoy their home.
Cooking
Pretty straightforward: if you are cooking something that has a strong lingering smell, open the windows and air out the home. Although home cooked food always smells great, it can be a bit annoying if it lingers in your bedroom. Try and avoid cooking big meals after quiet hours; the (good) smell might wake up your housemates ;)
Valuables & Safety
To avoid any sort of issues or confrontations, leave your valuables in your room. If you don’t mind valuables potentially getting lost or displaced, you are free to leave them wherever you want. Also, make sure all windows and doors are locked before you leave the home.
Be Part Of The Community
A big part of coliving is the people that you meet in the community! This definitely isn't a rule but we strongly recommend it if you want to make your experience worth while. At least make an effort to at least be part of your home community! At Casa Mia Coliving, we make a conscious effort to create a warm and welcoming environment of like-minded individuals, meaning you’ll be very likely to get along with others in the community. Join some of the events and see for yourself!
Happy Community
This is just a guide to help improve the atmosphere of your coliving home and within the community. Having these rules in place will not stop all conflict and tension but its a step in the right direction! It’s a great way to try and bring members closer together, avoid a tense atmosphere and most importantly, increase the chances that you’ll have a great coliving experience! Want to learn more about how we create a happy coliving community? We’ve refined our member selection process and wrote a blog about it. Have a read here. Interested to find out what our current members think about Casa Mia Coliving? Check out our latest semi-annual results here!
