A Checklist for Not Being That Flatmate
Moving into a German flatshare is like entering a reality show: only instead of roses or immunity idols, you’re fighting for fridge space and the good pan.
You’ve made it. After weeks of endless messages, awkward “casting calls,” and promising you’re “super chill and not a drama person,” you finally have the keys. You’re in. But now comes the real test: the first 48 hours.
This is the probation period where first impressions stick harder than Currywurst sauce on a white T-shirt. Nail it, and you’re the dream flatmate everyone brags about. Mess it up, and you’ll be “that person” in the group chat. Here’s the ultimate survival guide.
1. Understand the Culture (It’s Not Just About Rent)
In Germany, a WG isn’t just a way to save money: it’s more a lifestyle. People don’t want a stranger who occasionally appears in the hallway; they want a vibe match. That means you need to be social, respect quiet hours (Ruhezeiten), and know that the cleaning plan is sacred. You’re joining a micro-society with its own laws. Break them at your own risk.
2. Learn the House Rules Before You Break Them
Every WG has a “system.” Sometimes it’s a laminated cleaning chart. Sometimes it’s an Excel spreadsheet that looks like a NASA mission plan. Before you touch a sponge, find out how they like things done.
- Is there a rotation for buying toilet paper?
- Which bin is for what? (Welcome to Mülltrennung hell.)
- Are shoes allowed inside?
Mess this up and it’ll be whispered about for months.
3. Introduce Yourself Like a Normal Human (Not a LinkedIn Profile)
Keep it friendly, short, and relatable:
“Hey, I’m Alex, from Dublin, love cooking, big fan of lazy Sundays, and I promise I won’t steal your oat milk.”
Bonus: bring something small to share. Späti beers, snacks, or even Apfelstrudel. It’s a cheap investment in goodwill.
4. Keep Your Stuff in Your Lane
Common areas are Switzerland: neutral territory. Don’t turn the kitchen into your personal showroom of matcha powders and protein bars. If you have 27 skincare products, keep them in your room. The bathroom shelf should not look like a Douglas branch.
5. Learn the Holy German Ritual: Mülltrennung
Trash separation IS a religion. Paper, plastic, bio, glass… and Pfand bottles go in their own sacred corner. Get this wrong, and someone will correct you loudly while holding a banana peel.
6. Shower Strategy: Timing = Survival
German bathrooms are the most political space in any WG. If you take a 40-minute spa session at 8 a.m., congratulations: you’ve made your first enemy.
Tip: Ask about peak times, and for the love of Schnitzel, don’t use all the hot water.
7. Don’t Invite Your Whole Erasmus Group (Yet)
You’ve been in the flat for 24 hours. Do not (even if you’re the social type) host a “little get-together” that turns into 20 people drinking warm Lidl wine. Nothing screams bad vibes like a surprise rave in the kitchen.
8. Decode the Group Chat Vibes
You’ll be added to the WG WhatsApp. The tone matters. If people use emojis sparingly and write in full sentences, don’t send memes every hour. If the chat is full of chaotic inside jokes, loosen up: but don’t overshare on Day 1.
9. Respect Kitchen Diplomacy
The kitchen is the WG battlefield. Know the rules:
- Label your food.
- Never leave dirty dishes to “soak.” Everyone knows what that means.
- Don’t use the expensive olive oil that “someone’s friend brought from Italy.”
Bonus move: Offer to cook together one evening: but do NOT force it. This is a marathon, not Love Island.
10. Learn the Unspoken Social Rules
Every WG has a vibe:
- Berlin Techno WG: Expect pre-drinks that last until Tuesday.
- Ordnung WG: You’ll get a color-coded cleaning plan in Google Sheets.
- “Family” WG: Weekly dinners are sacred. Miss one and you’ll feel the passive aggression in the air.
Blend in first, THEN show your personality.
11. Avoid the Ultimate Sin: Being Loud at the Wrong Time
German neighbors have a sixth sense for noise violations. Blast music at midnight and you’ll summon the Hausordnung police. Quiet hours (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.) are not negotiable.
12. Bond, But Don’t Cling
Be present: hang out for a tea, join the chat in the kitchen, but don’t become impossible to avoid. Personal space is real here.
Bottom Line
Your first 48 hours will decide if you’re the roommate everyone loves: or the one they make memes about. Play it cool, respect the house laws, and bring snacks. Lots of snacks.
And if you’re still in the phase of endlessly scrolling and stressing about finding a room: stop. At heyroom, we match you with people you’ll actually get along with: no awkward interviews, no hidden Anmeldung nightmares.
