What Are Share House Rules?
Share house rules are the rules set by the operating company or the residents for living in a share house. They are also called “house rules.” For example, cleaning duty and bathroom time limits are house rules. Because residents of different ages, jobs, and nationalities live together in a share house, house rules are needed to prevent trouble between residents and keep everyone comfortable.Main Share House Rules by Area
Below are common examples of house rules, area by area. Check whether anything would be inconvenient for the way you live. Note that these are only examples. When you move into a share house, always check the rules of that specific property.Entrance
Examples of rules for using the entrance of a share house include the following.Examples of entrance house rules
- ● Do not leave shoes in the entrance; put them in the shoe cabinet
- ● Keep to 5 pairs of shoes per person in the shoe cabinet
- ● Store umbrellas in the designated place
In the shared spaces of a share house, including the entrance, you generally cannot leave your personal belongings wherever you like. Store shoes and umbrellas, and take care not to mix them up with other residents' things or leave the entrance messy.
Living Room (Shared Space)
The living room usually has house rules such as the following.Examples of living room house rules
- ● Do not leave personal belongings
- ● Do not sleep on the sofa
- ● Keep quiet after 11 p.m. (23:00)
- ● Turn off the TV and air conditioner when you leave the living room
Even a short nap in the living room reduces the space other residents can use, so it counts as bad manners. Even before the quiet hours set by the house rules, try not to be too noisy in the living room, as it may bother other residents.
Kitchen
Examples of kitchen house rules are as follows.Examples of kitchen house rules
- ● Do not leave dishes after use; put them away right away
- ● Write your name on food in the refrigerator
- ● Do not eat food that other residents bought without asking
- ● Do not leave food past its expiration date
Other residents may buy the same food, so a common rule is to write your name on yours to avoid mix-ups. If you want to use the kitchen at the same time as someone else, take turns.
Washing Machine
There are often rules about when to do laundry and how to use the washing machine.Examples of washing machine house rules
- ● Take your clothes out as soon as the wash finishes
- ● Do not use the washing machine late at night, as it is noisy
- ● When detergent or fabric softener runs out, refill it following the proper procedure
- ● Write your name on the board in advance so that machine times do not overlap
- ● Clean the lint from the washing machine yourself after use
- ● Wash items used jointly by residents in turns
- ● Do not hang underwear in shared areas
How to use the washing machine and how to wash shared items can lead to trouble because each resident has a different sense of what is normal. That is why rules like these are often set. The washing machine is shared, so be considerate about timing and cleanliness so everyone can use it comfortably.
Toilets, Washrooms, and Other Water Areas
Rules for using toilets and washrooms are also set to prevent trouble before it happens.Examples of toilet and washroom house rules
- ● When the toilet paper runs out, refill it according to the proper rules
- ● Always flush after use
- ● Do not take toilet paper away
- ● Bring your own toiletries and take them back to your room after use
- ● Clear the hair from the drain yourself
- ● Do not take shared items (such as hair dryers) into your room
- ● Do not leave the area soaked with water
- ● Always turn on the ventilation fan when using it
- ● Do not stay long in the toilet or washroom
Some houses have detailed rules, but all of them exist so that residents can use the space comfortably. Basically, there is no problem as long as you are considerate of other residents. It is a good idea to always clean up dirt around the area, drain trash, and fallen hair after you use it.
Bathroom
Share houses may set house rules like the following for the bathroom.Examples of bathroom house rules
- ● Use is limited to 30 minutes at a time
- ● Make a bath reservation when it is crowded
- ● Clear the hair from the drain each time you use it
In share houses, a time limit for use is common so that many people can bathe smoothly. Residents may also write their name on a whiteboard to reserve a bath.
Bedroom
Besides private bedrooms, share houses have shared bedrooms such as dormitories and semi-private rooms. Private rooms have no strict rules, but shared bedrooms may have house rules like the following.Examples of bedroom house rules
- ● Do not leave personal belongings anywhere other than on your bed or the shelf around it
- ● Do not leave the lights or air conditioner on
In a shared room, avoid spreading out your belongings so that everyone keeps private space. Even if it is not written in the rules, small courtesies matter, such as not turning on the light when a roommate is already asleep.
Private Rooms
Even a private room, which is your own private space, is not completely free of rules.Examples of private room rules
- ● Be mindful of how loud you are
- ● Do not hit the walls or floor or make loud noises
- ● Do not take phone calls late at night
- ● Use earphones for TV and the like late at night
- ● Keep valuables in your room
- ● Do not let trash pile up; clean regularly and keep the room clean
- ● Always turn off the lights when you are not using the room
- ● Do not bring in strong-smelling items
Even in a private room, a share house puts you close to your neighbors, and sound and vibration travel easily. Follow the rules and manners, and live with consideration for other residents.
Relationships and Manners
When you share a home with other people, keeping good relationships with the other residents is essential. To live without trouble, with moderation and good manners, you need to follow the rules set for relationships and manners.Examples of rules on relationships and manners
- ● Do not lend or borrow money
- ● Do not solicit anyone for anything
- ● Respect each other's privacy (no taking photos or posting on social media without permission)
- ● Do not cause trouble out of romantic feelings
Lending and borrowing money is likely to cause trouble later. However close you are, we recommend not lending or borrowing money. Also refrain from soliciting other residents. It can cause trouble not only when you have no clear consent, but even when you do.
You also need to respect each other's privacy. Do not take photos without permission or post them on social media, as that violates privacy. In the same way, causing trouble out of romantic feelings can also violate privacy. Follow the rules on relationships and manners too, and do not cause trouble for other residents.
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Other Rules
Share houses have rules besides the house rules set for each area. Here are three examples, so please check these as well.Visitors
For security and to prevent noise, some share houses prohibit inviting people who are not residents into the house. However, some share houses do not ban visitors entirely; for example, they may prohibit friends and partners but allow relatives. In women-only share houses, it is most common to prohibit only male visitors. Some share houses do not allow even relatives to enter, so if you want to invite someone to your room, we recommend checking the rules before you move in.Playing Musical Instruments
Some of you may want to practice an instrument at home. However, playing instruments is generally prohibited in share houses to prevent noise. If you want to play an instrument, we recommend choosing a share house with soundproof rooms or a studio. Such share houses attract residents who love music, so you may find friends who share your interests.Smoking
Most share houses are non-smoking, to keep the smell from soaking into other residents' belongings and the shared spaces. Some residents may have weak lungs or bronchial tubes, so smoking rules in particular must be strictly observed. However, some share houses have a smoking area or allow smoking on the balcony or rooftop, so if you smoke, choose such a property.What Happens If You Break Share House Rules?
We have introduced share house rules so far, but you may also wonder what happens if you break them. If you break a house rule, you will usually get only a verbal warning or a note at first, so if it was not intentional, there is no problem as long as you are careful from the next time.However, if you ignore these warnings and keep breaking the rules, you may eventually be forced to move out. To avoid that, check the house rules in advance and choose a share house whose rules suit you.
If a resident is not following the rules, the first step is to tell that person directly. When they understand that a clear rule known to all residents is being broken, they are more likely to accept it. It is even more persuasive if other residents also point it out.
Even if the person broke the rule without realizing it, telling them directly can make them aware of it.
If telling them does not lead to improvement, we recommend consulting the operating company. Trying to solve it among residents may make the trouble worse. Let the operating company take appropriate action.
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Check the Rules Carefully When Choosing a Share House
How was it? Share house rules are the rules for daily life set by the operating company or the residents. With such a variety of residents living together, following the house rules is essential to prevent trouble and live comfortably.Common house rules include not leaving personal belongings in shared spaces and not making noise at night.
At XROSS HOUSE, we explain the house rules at a briefing before move-in.
If you want to check the rules clearly before moving in, please search for properties on our site.
