Flatmate Agreement Checklist

Create a Flatmate Agreement to Prevent Roommate Conflicts

Living with flatmates in Poland is one of the best ways to save money and build social connections, but unspoken expectations are the leading cause of roommate conflicts. Research shows that 70% of flatmate disputes stem from assumptions about cleaning, noise, guests, and shared expenses that were never explicitly discussed. This checklist covers 41 essential topics to agree on before or during your first week of living together, preventing the conflicts that drive roommates apart.

In Poland's shared apartment culture, certain issues come up more frequently than others. Heating costs during winter can double or triple utility bills, leading to arguments about thermostat settings and window opening. Guest policies — especially overnight stays by partners — are the second most common source of tension. Cleaning standards vary widely between cultures, and what feels normal to one person can frustrate another. Addressing these topics proactively with a written agreement (even an informal shared document) eliminates ambiguity.

This checklist is organized into practical categories: financial agreements (rent splitting, utility sharing, grocery budgets), daily living rules (cleaning schedule, quiet hours, bathroom usage), social boundaries (guest policies, party rules, shared space etiquette), and exit procedures (notice period, deposit handling, replacement flatmate process). Going through it together as a household takes about 30 minutes and can save months of accumulated resentment.

• Go through this checklist together during a casual house meeting in the first week — frame it as 'getting on the same page' rather than imposing rules.
• Write agreements down in a shared document or group chat message that everyone acknowledges — verbal agreements are easily forgotten or misremembered.
• Agree on a heating strategy before winter (October) — this prevents the most common Polish flatmate argument about thermostat wars and window ventilation.
• Set clear guest policies early, especially about overnight stays and partner sleepovers — this avoids the most emotionally charged flatmate conflicts.
• Include a conflict resolution process: agree to raise issues within 48 hours, discuss in person (not text), and involve a neutral party if needed.