Co-living thrives when everyone feels respected, supported, and heard. Living with others means sharing space—and naturally, that sometimes leads to misunderstandings or moments of frustration. It’s completely normal. We’re all human, living busy lives, and emotional responses to conflict are part of the package.

That said, when something comes up—whether it’s something a housemate said or did—it’s natural to want support from management. However, we’ve learned that direct communication between housemates is almost always more effective, respectful, and sustainable than involving the office as a first step.

Here’s why:

Imagine you're on the receiving end of a complaint and the office reaches out to you about it. You’d likely feel caught off guard, maybe even hurt. You might wonder,
“Why didn’t my housemate just talk to me about this directly?”
“Why am I hearing about this from management instead?”

This kind of indirect communication can make small issues feel bigger than they are—and create unnecessary tension.

That’s why our house guidelines include:

• Rule #2: Expect conflict to happen
• Rule #3: When conflict arises, talk to the person directly

In most cases, the person causing the issue isn’t even aware of their impact. A simple, honest conversation can clear things up quickly—and usually resolves the issue on the spot.

Here’s a conversation starter you can use:

“Hey, is now a good time to talk? I just want to bring something up in a respectful way. I like and respect you, and I’d want someone to talk to me directly if the roles were reversed. When X happened, it made me feel Y. I’m guessing you didn’t realize, so I just wanted to share it so we can stay on the same page.”

This approach typically leads to understanding, a sincere apology, and a plan to avoid the issue in the future. Both people walk away feeling heard and respected—and often, these conversations even strengthen the relationship.

Of course, if you try to address it directly and the issue doesn’t improve or becomes more serious, we’re here to help. But starting with mutual respect and open communication creates the kind of community we all want to live in.

See also What should I do if I see a Community Room Rental rule being broken?

Watch or share the video included here for more support: