Overview: The Housing Crisis in Ontario
Living with roommates is becoming more common due to the widespread housing crisis. The median income in Toronto is not sufficient to cover the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment, let alone purchase a house. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Toronto was $2,300+ in June 2025 (source: Rentals.ca). The average home price in Toronto exceeds $1,000,000. Meanwhile, the median individual income in Toronto was just $39,200 as of the last census (source: Statistics Canada). The situation is not much better outside the Greater Toronto Area, as many smaller cities and towns are seeing similarly high rents and home prices.
There are many reasons for the housing crisis, including the following:
- The recent population growth has exceeded the available housing stock.
- Red tape prevents new housing from being built.
- High taxes and fees are passed on to consumers or make building new housing entirely unprofitable.
- Incomes have not kept pace with the cost of living.
- Rent and home prices far exceed what people can afford.
This is why many Ontarians now live with roommates. Life has become ridiculously expensive, so people adapt however they can.
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In this article, we will look at seven brilliant tips for living with roommates.
Tip #1: Maintain Cleanliness
What comes to mind when you think of young adults living with roommates? You might imagine a messy house: dirty dishes in the sink, cigarette stubs in the ashtray, spoiled food in the fridge, and so on.
Part of growing up is being able to maintain an appropriate level of cleanliness. This means washing the dishes after yourself, cleaning the kitchen table after you’re done eating, throwing out spoiled food, sweeping/mopping the floors, and so on.
If you’re able to keep up with your cleaning duties, you’ll be an ideal roommate. Your roommates or housemates will not be able to reproach you with anything, and you’ll be highly desirable amid a sea of people who neglect basic cleanliness.
Maintaining cleanliness will also help you develop discipline and self-reliance. If you move into your own place and/or become the head of a household, you’ll have what it takes to run your household successfully.
Tip #2: Respect Personal Boundaries
When you’re living with relatives or non-relatives in close quarters, you will inevitably bump up against personal boundaries. Other people will also bump up against your personal boundaries. The key is to navigate people’s desire for privacy successfully.
Respect your roommates’ personal boundaries and privacy. If you see that they’re not willing to engage with you or answer personal questions, pull back. Don’t ask invasive personal questions. You may appreciate when they return the favour. Respecting people’s privacy may be the key to having a smooth experience with roommates.
Tip #3: Forgive and Forget
Despite your best efforts, you may encounter personal conflicts with your roommates or housemates. You may be living in close confines with complete strangers. Tempers may flare. Hurtful words may be said. Therefore, it’s important to let go of personal hurts and offences before they fester. If you can let go, if you can forgive and forget, do so. You will achieve a more peaceful outcome. This is another key to living with roommates successfully and may save you a lot of pain.
Tip #4: Maintain Appropriate Noise Levels
One of the common problems with communal living may be excessive noise levels. You might have a different tolerance for noise compared to some other people. This may lead to conflicts when one person listens to music loudly, for instance, and another wants absolute quiet.
The key is to balance flexibility and open communication. Express what your boundaries are, but don’t expect perfection. Nobody is perfect. While you may find your roommates’ noise levels high, you yourself may display behaviours your roommates find unappealing. Keep that in mind.
Tip #5: Your Roommates Are Not (Necessarily) Your Friends
While roommates may become friends in some cases, that should not be the expectation. Roommates are, first of all, neighbours. This means your goal should be to get along, not necessarily to spark a lifelong friendship.
Maintaining a professional relationship with your roommates means you can maintain personal boundaries and some level of privacy. Don’t divulge personal information. You never know how they might end up using it. Yes, not every roommate is a wholesome person. Keep your distance. This will make your experience that much smoother.
Tip #6: Be Mindful of the Bathroom
If multiple people are sharing the same bathroom, challenges are inevitable. Don’t spend too much time in the bathroom. Maintain cleanliness and clear separation of your items from other people’s items. Until you move into a place of your own, you will have to make compromises and survive the challenges associated with shared living spaces.
Tip #7: Avoid Passive-Aggressive Behaviour
Living with roommates can be tough. Sometimes, you may be in a bad mood. A stressful day at work, trouble covering expenses, or a health issue could ruin your day. You may feel tempted to lash out at your roommates or exhibit passive-aggressive behaviour. Avoid doing so. Find alternative ways to relax. Vent your frustrations to a close friend or family member. Take up a hobby. Join a gym. Just don’t become aggressive in any way toward your roommates. This may help preserve peace and harmony in your household, until your situation improves.
Conclusion
Due to the housing crisis, living with roommates has become an inescapable reality for many Ontarians. For some, that is the only way to deal with the high housing costs.
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