I (19f) are currently living in a shared university flat with seven other people. The state of our kitchen has always been bad but now it’s getting completely unacceptable. Raw meat will be left to thaw on our counter, dirty dishes will be left in the sink for days until they’re forced to be moved, spilt food will be left on the floor for days, mouldy food is left on the counters and in the fridge for weeks, spilt liquids from the fridge leak onto the floor and don’t get cleaned up for weeks, and the bins are often left to overflow. Food waste also continues to be put into the recycling bin despite me and others saying multiple times the difference between the two bins. We’ve been given multiple warnings from the university cleaners that come in each week and we’re being threatened with fines for the state of the kitchen. The flatmates who are the issue here are Chinese foreign students, so I always put the issues down to communication differences but now I’m done making excuses for them because I’ve given them enough chances that I can’t let it go anymore. I feel uncomfortable in my own kitchen and I feel like they’re not respecting that other people need to live here as well. I’m not perfect myself, I make mistakes, but I feel like these people have been given so many chances and warnings that they’re not respecting. I’m done trying to get through to them and if this continues in the way it is I will be reporting them to the accommodation services.
I’m worried about this though, as I don’t want to create unnecessary tension in the flat. We still have to live together until late May so I feel like I might create tensions not only for me but for my other flatmates who do clean and aren’t the problem but have expressed they don’t want to get involved and they just want to let it happen because it doesn’t matter to them.
WIBTA to report them?
tbh reporting them might actually save your other chill flatmates from stress too
You’ve been patient enough, let the uni handle it
I would ask the university to be moved- take photos and speak to a wellbeing person
NTA
This isn’t just about cleanliness, it’s actually hazardous and they (all flatmates) have already been warned that there will be financial consequences. The uni should be able to get an interpreter in if they feel the students aren’t actually understanding. Maybe ask the other roommates who are tidy to accompany you to make an official complaint.
I may do that, as it’s getting unacceptable at this point.
NTA, Besides being gross, it’s a serious health hazard. The bugs and vermin are probably very happy. Don’t worry about anybody putting your health at risk and this is exactly what is happening. Report them.
Also don’t internalize the nationality thing. this is about shared living standards not culture.
Very much so agreed!
Report asap. This is disgusting, disrespectful and frankly a health hazard.
If they want to live like that by themselves that’s their prerogative, but this affects other people too.
WNBTA 100%
NTA. There is most likely already tension so report away.
BTA there’s already a bad atmosphere and a chance of food poisoning! Report them immediately because if you have a check done they will come down on you all. Get in there first ask if you can be moved if they are unwilling to speak to those refusing to clean up and recycle.
YWNBTA. This is a health hazard and they don’t want to improve. In my experience, people who grew up in large Chinese cities are completely incapable of simple household tasks. Well, not incapable, but they simply never learned. I once asked one of my Chinese friends about this and the answer was basically this: they almost never cook at home and for most of them their parents do everything so they can focus on studies. They genuinely don’t know how to do the most basic things (still seems crazy to me). Difference is that they were willing to learn even if it wasn’t easy.
NTA – also tell the offenders that they will have to pay any fines that are incurred.