One of the most exciting parts of being a student in Lancaster is moving off-campus into student accommodation in the city centre with a group of friends. You’ll have more independence, more space, and the chance to choose who you live with. Which is great… Until you realise that, while your mates are fun, your personalities don’t always match up 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Who you live with can make or break your university experience, so here are a few tips and things to think about when choosing your housemates.
Don’t Limit Yourself to Just Friends
Living with friends sounds amazing (and often it is), but being best mates doesn’t always mean you’ll be great housemates. Ask yourself: will they pull their weight with cleaning? Can I be around them every day and still enjoy their company? Do they respect boundaries?
It can help to do a little “trial run” together. Go on a short trip or stay over at someone’s flat for a few nights. You’ll get a glimpse of their living habits before committing to a tenancy together.
Do Your Lifestyles Match
Everyone has different routines, especially if you’re on separate courses. Sometimes this works well, but in other cases it can cause tension. Think about whether you’re an early riser or a night owl. Do you need peace and quiet to study, or are you fine with background noise? Are you okay with housemates who love having people over, or do you prefer a calmer space? Having these conversations early can save a lot of drama later.
Have the Important Conversations
Moving from halls on campus to off-campus accommodation in Lancaster is a big step. With more freedom also comes more responsibility. Nobody loves cleaning, but keeping the house tidy benefits everyone. Lots of student houses create a cleaning rota so jobs are shared fairly and expectations are clear.
It’s also worth discussing other practical things like having guests to stay, sharing food, splitting bills, or who’s buying the toilet roll. It may sound small now, but you’ll thank yourself later when nobody’s fighting over the last slice of bread at 3am.
Make Sure Everyone is on the Same Page
Before you sign anything, make sure the whole group is fully committed and happy with the house. Moving is stressful enough without someone dropping out at the last minute or trying to change the tenancy. Don’t rush into the first house you see. Take your time, trust your instincts, and make sure both the house and the group feel right.
Finding the right housemates is a big decision. Think it through carefully and don’t feel pressured to rush. When you’ve got the right people by your side, the whole experience will be so much better.
Check out the Escape Campus website to see the student houses available for 2026/2027.