<p>and for some random reason (I probably wasn't in my right mind), I agreed to room with him again next year (good thing we at least get our own room). He leaves stuff all over the living room, doesn't pick up after himself, his dishes get unwashed (with food still in them) for months etc.... </p>
<p>Any ideas of what ground rules I can set or how I can deal with his messiness next year?</p>
<p>Sit down with him and have a talk about it. Draft a list of things you both agree to do (wash dishes after using them, pick up dirty clothes lying around, take out the trash, etc.) and post the list in very visible common areas (above the sink, in the bathroom, on the fridge, on the door, etc.) It’ll be a good reminder and he’ll be guilted into at least putting in a good effort to not be a slob.</p>
<p>At my school, at the beginning of the year, we have to make and sign contracts with our roommates about this kind of thing, and then hand them over to the CAs. Then if there’s a dispute later on, the CA will pull out the contract and everyone has to abide by what’s on the contract. If there’s something like this at your school, you should make the cleanliness standards clear on the contract. If not, maybe it’s not too late to try to live with someone else.</p>
<p>well I definitely have the option to live with someone else. The problem is, how should I tell him that I want to live with someone else?</p>
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<p>It’s more comfortable [for you] to be inconvenienced by something you are familiar with than deal with uncertainty. </p>
<p>How to deal with his messiness? Tell him to *<strong><em>ing grow up. Seems like he couldn’t find anyone else to room with either, so put some conditions on the table. If he doesn’t respect the space you share, just *</em></strong> him up in a secret squirrel kinda way.</p>
<p>Just be up-front about it. Tell him you had a change of plans and you’re gonna room with someone else. He’ll live.</p>
<p>Just be assertive and tell him your expectations. Try to be friendly if this is the first time you’ve talked with him about it. If the topic has already been covered, then he has ignored your expectations and needs to be told this firmly. There’s no excuse for leaving the place a mess when others have to live there. If that doesn’t work, move out.</p>