Roommates: can’t live with ’em… can’t afford rent without ’em.

Whether you’ve shared a tiny dorm, a two-bedroom apartment, or a shoebox-sized city flat, chances are you’ve got at least one unforgettable roommate story. The good news? No matter how strange or annoying your current situation may seem, someone out there has definitely had it worse.

Here are a few laugh-out-loud roommate tales to make you grateful for your own (mostly) normal living arrangement.

1. The Chicken Whisperer

"My college roommate decided she wanted to 'live more sustainably.' Noble, right? Except her solution was to secretly keep three chickens in our closet. I only found out when I heard clucking during a Zoom class. She tried to convince me they were just 'emotional support birds.'" — Lindsay, 24

At least your roommate’s idea of eco-living is just using metal straws, right?

2. The Ghost Hunter

"Every Thursday at midnight, my roommate would walk around the apartment burning sage, muttering, 'The spirits will NOT take my leftovers again.' I thought it was a joke… until I realized he was dead serious. He even installed a 'spirit deterrent crystal' on the fridge." — Malik, 27

Forget pest control—apparently some people need ghost control.

3. Toilet Paper Tyranny

"I lived with a girl who labeled everything. And I mean everything. Each square of the toilet paper roll had her name in tiny Sharpie writing. She told me, 'It’s about accountability.'" — Jess, 21

Honestly, if someone’s labeling individual sheets of TP, it’s time to move.

4. The Nocturnal Noodler

"One night, I woke up at 3 a.m. to the sound of slurping. I walked into the kitchen and saw my roommate standing in complete darkness, silently eating cold spaghetti with his hands. No plate. Just straight from the pot." — Greg, 25

Midnight snacks? Relatable. Cold-pasta-finger-feast in the shadows? Less so.

5. Shower Karaoke Superstar

"My roommate loved singing in the shower—but only one song. Every single day for four months, she sang 'Let It Go' from Frozen, full volume. I started harmonizing just out of sheer survival." — Tania, 22

The cold never bothered her anyway… but it definitely bothered everyone else.

6. The Open Door Policy (Literally)

"He refused to close any doors in the apartment. Not the bathroom, not his bedroom, not even the fridge. Said he 'didn’t believe in barriers.' I had to install a curtain just so I could pee in peace." — Drew, 28

Some people say they’re open-minded. Others… take it a little too literally.

7. The Pet Rock Enthusiast

"My roommate had 46 pet rocks. Each had a name, a backstory, and a spot at the dinner table. If you accidentally bumped one, you had to apologize and 'make things right.'" — Marissa, 23

Rock-solid friendship… or just one pebble away from a breakdown?

The Silver Lining

Roommates come in all shapes, sizes, and levels of “quirky.” Sure, they might hog the bathroom, never take out the trash, or hold seances for haunted Tupperware—but they also give us great stories, unforgettable memories, and lifelong lessons in patience (and sometimes, negotiation).

And hey, after reading these stories, maybe your roommate who leaves a few dishes in the sink isn’t so bad after all.

If you’re ready to find a roommate who doesn’t believe their lava lamp is sentient, check out iROOMit—one of the best sources for roommate and room rentals. Whether you're moving across town or across the country, iROOMit helps you match with like-minded roommates and safe, affordable housing. Your next chapter might be just a click away—and hopefully chicken-free.

Got a wild roommate story of your own? Share it in the comments! Who knows—you might just help someone else feel a little better about their own weird living situation.