They might not be your roommate, but they’re somebody’s roommate, and you’re likely to hear the complaints at some point during your college years.

Later on, we might tackle how to survive rooming with these ten types of roommates from hell, especially in instances where you have already signed on to leases you cannot break.

But for now, let’s take a look at the roommates and what it is that makes them so difficult to live with.

The Best Friend

Growing up, most of us naively think of buying a home and living with our best friends all the way into retirement. But best friends rooming together rarely works. Not only does it usually ruin the friendship, but sometimes even the parents get involved and the rift grows several generations wide.

But why? Best friends bond on a level that removes all boundaries. This is great for sleepovers as teens, but grows tiresome for long-term living arrangements as adults. Best friends expect each other to ‘understand’ and may take liberties with each other that they would not with others.

Due to habits they developed earlier in life together, they are also usually less respectful of each other’s personal space and things, thus causing added friction over time.

The Broke One

One of the most common, bad roommates you may have is the one who never pays the bills on time. They may even go as far as to hide from you when the bills are due, or may give ridiculous excuses for why they don’t have the money.

You may find yourself spending every month trying to pick up their loose ends. Don’t be surprised if they then break the lease and leave you to clean up the financial mess.

The Food Thief 

Another bad roommate is the one who eats your food. If there are multiple people in the household, you may have difficulty figuring out who the culprit is. But there goes your leftovers that you dreamed about all through class, or tomorrow’s carefully made lunch — turning up missing at the most inconvenient times.

In place of this, you may end up with the roommate who does not eat your pre-made food, but who may use your groceries and not replace them. This can be just as annoying when halfway through cooking your meal you realise you are out of cheese or salad dressing.

The One who Wears your Clothes

This is usually most common in instances where relatives and friends room together. Not only does this roommate run off with your favorite dress or sweater, but the clothes then often turns up in your laundry basket, dirty and stained. Sometimes it’s not returned at all.

The One in a Crazy Relationship

Whether they’re breezing through way too many lovers or just have one that has lost their absolute minds, this roommate can not only make you uncomfortable, but put you in danger.

Along with a lot of arguments and paranoia, there is just no telling when the lover will snap, and what may happen to you if you’re around at the time it happens.

The Noisy One who Never Sleeps

Perhaps even more annoying than the roommate who wears your clothes and eats your food, is the noisy roommate who reps for #TeamNoSleep. This roommate is usually up at odd hours of the night, watching the TV at max volume, blasting music, or entertaining friends.

They may even be up studying, but whatever the reason, that light streaming under your door at three in the morning isn’t likely to do you any favors.

The One who Never Showers

This roommate is more likely to be male than female. This is the roommate who marks clean enough laundry by sniffing the armpits, and who goes days without paying a visit to the shower.

If they are extremely active on the field, at the gym, or in the bedroom, you can expect to get an especially smelly treat every day.

The Messy One

Just as gross as the roommate who never showers is the messy roommate. They may tend to their own personal hygiene, but often leave the apartment or dorm room in disarray. You can expect week old pizza on the coffee table and dishes piled sky high in the sink.

Even roommates who leave the rest of the apartment clean and just their private room in a mess can invite pests to make a home in their living space.

The Junkie

Your clothes will never smell clean again; nor will your sofa, or anything else in your apartment. Every time you have friends over, you will have to explain to them what the smell is, or why they can’t see two feet in front of their faces from all the smoke.

If you are a drug user yourself and trying to buckle down for college, then the temptation to join in on the 24/7 get-high campaign might be more than you can comfortably take. Your roommate may also bring dealers by on occasion, and other questionable company.

The One who’s Never Home

Certainly not the worst of all bad roommates, the one who’s never home nonetheless can become a difficult person to live with. The roommate may question paying half of utilities since they are usually away, and may be difficult to reach in cases of emergencies.

There is also limited opportunity to bond, which may be preferable for some, but awkward in the long run. This is after all, someone you live with. Who wants to live with a prefect stranger?

Of course many students go through college and early adulthood without running into these characters, but they do make for interesting stories. For starters, check out this post on how living with a terrible roommate resulted in me being homeless in college for several months.

About the Author

Alexis Chateau is the Founder of College Mate and Managing Director at Alexis Chateau PR. She is an activist, writer, and explorer. Follow her stories of trial and triumph at www.alexischateau.com.