Joe Thomas, the actor known for his roles in The Inbetweeners and Fresh Meat, has backed a move to try to help young people in shared rental accommodation
More than half of Brits haved lived with – or currently live with – a “housemate from hell,” according to a study.
Some young renters have even moved out of their place due to problems with flatmates, including dirty dishes piling in the sink, the bathroom always being left in a state and bins constantly overflowing. Another common bug bears is hearing your housemate having “loud intimate time” with their partner, a poll has found.
But renting remains common – out of necessity – as the average age at which Brits are able to buy their own place has now increased to 38, it is understood. The conflict of shared accommodation, though, can impact the mental well-being of tenants, and their ability to work and study.
Joe Thomas, the actor famed for playing Simon Cooper in The Inbetweeners, lived in shared accommodation with sitcom co-star Simon Bird following graduation from Cambridge University. Joe, 41, has now backed a move by Quizlet, a global learning platform for students, to help young people tackle conflicts and maintain the social contracts that lead to a happy home. The organisation has launched the “Unofficial Housemate Rulebook” following the research it commissioned.
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Joe, who was also in student drama Fresh Meat, said: “I have lived in shared accommodation during my time at university and as a graduate, and I have played the role of student in a messy house share. So, trust me, I know all about the ups and downs of living in shared accommodation.
“Whether it is the never-ending pile of bin bags or the mountain of dirty dishes in the sink, I would have benefited from a guide on how to be a good housemate. Thankfully, Quizlet has created an ‘Unofficial Housemate Rulebook’ to prevent a few of those familiar arguments from happening.”
Leaving dirty dishes in the sink (65 per cent) tops the list of housemate red flags, followed by eating food that isn’t theirs (52 per cent), leaving the bathroom in a mess (47 per cent), and ignoring overflowing bins (42 per cent). Not paying bills or rent on time (31 per cent), never buying loo roll or cleaning supplies (29 per cent), inviting strangers to stay without asking (25 per cent) and smoking or vaping indoors (23 per cent) also made the list of annoyances.
But Quizlet says young people can learn from these experiences and navigate through them with the use of its advice on the app. Niki Frankfort, senior communications manager at the firm, said: “Navigating the unspoken rules of a shared home can be a major source of stress, and as the data reveals, it often leads to conflict that can impact everything from mental well-being to the ability to study effectively.
“We hope that by creating this guide, we will help make moving away from home an easier transition and support our users not just in their studies, but in all pivotal learning moments that shape their lives.”