There is no relationship quite like that which exists between flatmates - obviously not a familial bond, yet certainly something more than just friendship.
You eat together, party together, squabble and yell, pay the power bill together and, if it's a mixed flat, you will at some stage probably end up sleeping together, too.
Therefore, in a flatting situation it is always best if some rules are set and guidelines followed.
As with any household, if simple etiquette is maintained a proportional amount of harmony will exist.
An abandonment of such etiquette leads to general negativity in the flat which may result in poor university grades, property damage, concussion, lacerations, or, in extreme circumstances, death.
Cases of itchiness and rashes are also common, though usually easily resolved with a splash of pest control.
In order for you to avoid the former, I have devised simple steps which are able to be categorised under Three Cs.
Accurate adherence to these rules will ensure your flat is a positive environment.
C.1 - Compromise
My flatmate once claimed he heartily agreed with the notion of compromise but never found the need to employ it because his way of thinking was always the right way.
Please note, this is a concerning attitude and certainly not productive with regards to promoting positive flat dynamics.
In order to live harmoniously with others, one must exercise a little flexibility; that is, one does not necessarily have to embrace dirty dishes, but it is a good idea to often put up with the odd dirty dish.
Compromise involves communicating in order to arrive at a mutual agreement on a given issue.
Unfortunately middle ground never satisfies anyone, but such is the nature of flatting and as long as all are equally displeased you can be confident you have come to a suitable solution.
C.2 - Cleanliness
Flatting situations bring together individuals from all sorts of backgrounds.
Bedrooms are obviously their occupants' responsibility (providing the filth is not to a degree where it poses a health risk to flatmates).
Obviously your flat will never be up to home standard due to the lack of a mother, but it is certainly beneficial to keep it as hygienic as possible.
If your flat is also housing rats, cockroaches or harmful bacterial growth, seek help outside this article.
Oh, and as a general rule of thumb, if you can no longer discern to which food group that item in the back of your fridge belongs, it is not OK to eat.
C.3 - Conscientiousness
By nature, humans are opportunistic beings.
If you leave your toothpaste on the vanity, other people will use it.
Now, if you do use someone else's toothpaste, which they foolishly left on the vanity, try to use an unnoticeable amount and put it back exactly where it was.
Honestly, what flatmates don't know, really won't hurt them.
They will notice, however, if you eat their entire block of cheese.
Such incivility will generally result in a case of (depending on the type of cheese illegitimately consumed) moderate to severe domestic violence.
I therefore highly recommend that in order to be a conscientious flatmate, one should always consider the repercussions of words and actions. Oh, there are so many more Cs that would enhance your flatting experience: closeness, carefulness, callousness (lack of).
Undoubtedly, there will be moments during which you detest your flatmates.
This is a universal side effect of having to share your space with other people.
Also, as I mentioned earlier, equally undoubtable (yet mention-worthy) is the fact that if you live in a flat with both boys and girls you will end up getting with a flatmate of the opposite sex (assuming all have heterosexual tendencies, that is).
So, before you waste time with cliché protests (don't screw the crew! yeah, right) the most important tip I can give you is this: make sure you check ("check" - there's another "C") the roster the night before to ensure you're not on dishes together the following evening.
Because, as everyone knows, dishes and kisses do not mix.
• Katie Kenny studies English at the University of Otago.