University: Things Found in Student Houses

I’ve already mentioned viewing a house and finding myself standing in dirty underwear. That wasn’t a fun experience, though I am forever thankful for cold weather requiring chunky boots that day. Mess is a given in many student houses, be it constant, or just during exam periods or after a gathering. So it’s not that unusual to find strange items lying around…

We hosted a pre-drinks session around this time last year. It was a pretty casual thing, a good night. We began the clean up the next morning and all seemed well. We’d gained a few half-full bottles, a few drink spillages. Nothing too traumatic. And whilst what we found wasn’t exactly tramatic, it was still rather puzzling. “Are these yours?” we asked of each other. Turns out someone, somehow had left us with a pair of their trainers…

Then there was first year. I came in through the main entrance, and wandered into the kitchen. My halls were like a house, with the kitchen backing onto a little grass area with a backdoor. And there at the backdoor was my housemate trying to entice a duck inside. What she was planning on doing with the duck I’ll never know.

The same housemate also had rather odd cleanliness habits. A fortnightly (yep) shower would result in the plughole being taped up, and the bathroom flooding. And she left handfuls of hair everywhere. She’d also wash her clothes whilst showering and air dry them. Though an airer was beyond her – she’d tied string across her room. Fine. Just don’t airdry your undies in full view of your door. Equally, don’t leave your rather obviously worn thong on the bathroom floor for three days. I rather quickly denied ownership to our other housemates…

I’ve been asked to talk about strange things found in student houses in association with British Gas, after apprentice Sarah was called to a customer’s home to fix a broken boiler and was surprised to discover that the house was filled with over 300 birds. I can imagine that would be a little odd!

What’s the strangest thing you’ve found in your house, or someone else’s home?