The "24-Hour" Rule: No dishes left in the sink for more than 24 hours. If it’s a busy exam week, just a quick soak and stack is expected.
Countertops: Kitchen counters should be wiped down after cooking (especially if raw meat or messy spices were used).
Fridge Clean-out: Every Sunday night, we do a quick scan of the fridge. If it’s fuzzy or expired, it goes in the bin.
Chore Rotation: We will use a simple rotating schedule (or an app like Tody or Splitwise) for deep-cleaning shared areas:
Task A: Taking out trash/recycling/compost.
Task B: Vacuuming/Mopping common floors.
Task C: Cleaning the shared bathrooms and powder room.
2. Quiet Hours & Study Vibe
Weeknight Quiet (Sun–Thu): Quiet hours begin at 11:00 PM. This means using headphones for TV/Music and keeping kitchen chatter at a lower volume.
Exam Season: During midterms and finals, the house defaults to "Library Mode"—extra mindfulness regarding noise is expected 24/7.
Early Birds: Since we have early starts, please be mindful of heavy footsteps or loud door-closing before 8:00 AM.
3. Guests & Socializing
Overnight Guests: Significant others are welcome, but to keep utilities and space fair, we ask for a "3-night max" per week.
Parties/Gatherings: Any group larger than 4 people should be cleared with the house group chat at least 24 hours in advance.
Safety: Never give out the front door code/key to non-tenants.
4. Shared Supplies & Expenses
The "Bulk" Fund: We will split the cost of shared household essentials (Toilet paper, dish soap, paper towels, cleaning supplies, and salt for the water softener).
Personal Items: Milk, eggs, and "specialty" snacks are private unless stated otherwise. If you use the last of someone's milk, please replace it!
5. Communication
The Group Chat: We use a dedicated group chat (WhatsApp/iMessage) for house updates only (e.g., "The dishwasher is running," or "I'm having a friend over for dinner").
Face-to-Face: If there’s a small issue, we agree to bring it up kindly and directly rather than letting it sit.