Key to a happy home? Separate bathrooms! Uswitch analysis reveals the most irritating household habits
A fifth of Brits who live with others would like separate bathrooms to ensure harmonious living, while 17% believe separate bedrooms would do the trick
Those who argue most frequently tend to be partners in romantic relationships, who admit to bickering at least FIVE times a week
Early evening, between 6pm and 8pm, is the most popular time the average household has an argument
Some of the most annoying habits include not washing up or keeping the house clean, turning on the big light instead of lamps, leaving the toilet seat up, and not taking the bins out
Research from Uswitch.com reveals what causes the most tension within homes across the UK
Utrack by Uswitch, the mobile app, allows households to connect their smart meter and track their energy usage to help cut down on costs… and arguments.
A fifth of households who live with at least one other person, say separate bathrooms is the key to harmonious living, yet a further 17% say they would have separate bedrooms if they could, according to new research from Uswitch.com, the comparison and switching service.
When asked about the most annoying habits of those we live with, our bathroom habits are a hot topic of conversation. Nearly a quarter (23%) of women said leaving the toilet seat up was one of their biggest bugbears in the home, compared to just 8% of men saying the same — closely followed by the toilet roll not being changed (24% of women vs 14% of men).
The research, which has explored when and what is causing the most arguments in the home, found that early evening (between 6pm and 8pm) is when we bicker the most with those we live with, and the household chores are sparking the most confrontations.
Over a quarter (28%) say not washing up or keeping the house clean causes the most quibbles, followed by not sharing the load with household chores such as taking the bins out (22%).
Almost two fifths (38%) of females said that one of the most annoying habits of others they live with is not noticing when things need cleaning and tidying up. This was followed by more than a quarter (29%) complaining of crumbs being left everywhere, and leaving plates, mugs and cups around the house (28%).
When asked who we bicker with the most, a romantic partner came up tops according to 40% of people who live with others. And two in five (41%) admit to arguing with people they live with at least FIVE times a week.
| Reasons for arguments | Percentage of households who argue about this (%) |
|---|---|
| Not washing up / keeping the house clean | 28% |
| Not sharing the load with household chores | 22% |
| Money | 19% |
| What to eat for dinner | 16% |
| Who left the lights on | 15% |
| Constantly being on their phone | 14% |
| What to watch on TV | 13% |
| Turning the heating on / changing the thermostat temperature | 12% |
| Sleeping with the TV on | 12% |
| Turning the big lights on instead of lamps | 9% |
Of those seeking solace in a spot of alone time, one in five admit to spending longer on the toilet with their phone, a quarter (26%) will have a bath or shower, and a fifth (20%) will make an excuse to pop to the shops or go somewhere alone.
For those keen to keep the peace, almost half of those surveyed (47%) say communicating well with each other is important for harmonious living, as well as showing empathy and validating the other person's feelings (37%), cooking for one another (36%) and even spending time apart in different rooms (24%).
Although we may want to spend some time apart from those we live with, when it comes to bedtime, it seems that the temperature of the home is one thing we can agree on. Half (51%) of us prefer sleeping in a colder room and even though it may be July, thermostat wars within the home continue all year round.
Two fifths (41%) would put the heating on when the house is cold whereas, 46% would put on more layers instead. Additionally, nearly half (47%) of those surveyed admitted to still having their heating turned on in May and a quarter (24%) leave the heating on low all day.
Elise Melville, energy expert at Uswitch.com, comments: “We all lead busy lives which come with their own day-to-day stresses, so it’s understandable that we want to return to a peaceful and happy home at the end of the working day.
“The research shows that communication is key to harmonious living and that we need to be mindful and considerate of those we live with.
“Simple tasks such as helping with the washing or unloading the dishwasher, or simply turning lights off when we go to bed, may not only be beneficial to the purse strings but also to your household environment.
“If you’re conscious of how much others in your household are wasting on energy, you can keep track of your usage using Utrack by Uswitch, which connects to your smart meter and allows you to see usage insights down to the hour.”
To track your home energy usage, download Utrack by Uswitch.
Notes to Editors
An online survey was conducted by Atomik Research among 2,002 respondents from across the UK. The research fieldwork took place on 15th May – 17th May 2024. Atomik Research is an independent creative market research agency that employs MRS-certified researchers and abides to MRS code.
All survey questions and responses / results are available upon request.
About Uswitch
Uswitch is one of the UK’s top comparison websites for home services switching, including energy, broadband and mobiles.
More people go to Uswitch to switch their energy, broadband and mobile than any other site, and we have saved consumers over £2.7 billion off their bills since we launched in September 2000.
Free mobile app Utrack also helps households manage their home energy usage and make potential savings.
Uswitch is part of RVU, a group of online brands with a mission to empower consumers to make more confident home services, insurance and financial decisions.