Living with a roommate will probably be unlike anything you have done in your life until now. To help you adjust to your living situation, we offer the following advice:
Be realistic.
Don't expect your roommate to be your best friend and constant companion. Continuous close contact can strain even the best of friendships.
Keep the lines of communication open.
Discuss the potential areas of conflict. Be open to compromise. If necessary, make a list of ground rules concerning such issues as music, smoking, and visitors. This will lessen the chance of arguments over simple misunderstandings. If your roommate is doing something you don't like, express your feelings. It's usually better to air concerns immediately. Don't store up a lot of petty grievances -- they will grow into a major problem.
Remember your RA is there to help.
Although most RAs prefer that students try and work out disagreements on their own first, they are always available to help mediate serious conflicts.
Know your rights
As a resident you have the right to:
Sleep and relax in your room.
Read and study in your room, free of interference.
Have control over your personal possessions.
Have free access to your room.
Have a clean, safe environment in which to live.
Entertain guests without infringing upon the rights of your roommate or community.
Appropriately challenge another's behavior when it infringes on your rights.
Seek the aid of staff in resolving conflicts after your own unsuccessful attempts at resolution.
Moving Your Pet
Getting through the emotional stress of moving is difficult enough for adults and children. But what about pets, a species with whom we can't even level? Pet owners are often baffled by their pets' behavior during and after a move. Sometimes it's a personality change, a regression in housebreaking habits or a sudden unexplained illness. Even if you don't notice something that dramatic, there's no question that your faithful companion is feeling stress. How do you move your pet and keep the strain to an absolute minimum -- both to yourself and your beloved pet?
Is That Apartment Hazardous to Your Health?
When you sign a lease committing yourself to a unit in an apartment complex or building, you're agreeing to live in close quarters with strangers. You're also making the assumption that your building will be properly managed and maintained. That includes such factors as air quality and adequate pest control. As a tenant, you have rights, of course, but some of the most serious threats to your health -- such as carbon monoxide -- are ones you can't even see or smell.
Does The Landlord Have To Clean The Apartment Before I Move In?
QUESTION:What can I do about a landlord who promised a clean and newly painted apartment before we moved in, but didn't deliver? We have moved in because we had nowhere else to go, but I am concerned about our children's health and the total well-being of our family. Can I report the unhealthy living conditions to the health department? Please let me know of my legal rights or how to go about this problem in a dignified manner.
