A roommate agreement is a legal and binding contract between two or more people who live together in the same space.
As an official written document, it clearly outlines responsibilities and expectations. By signing the document, each person understands the agreed upon rules and responsibilities.
Unlike a Lease Agreement, this contract is between the Tenants or Roommates, not between the Landlord and Tenants.
People do not need to be strangers in order to have a Roommate Agreement. In fact, friends may need a written agreement to make sure everyone is clear about what is expected so if there is a dispute, it doesn’t turn into a fight.
Even if your roommate is family or a close friend, using a contract to establish clear guidelines will make sure relationships remain amicable.
As a reference, people call this document by other names:
- Housemate Agreement
- Roommate Contract
How to Write Your Own Roommate Contract
Solid roommate contracts contain three main sections: the basic information about the roommates and the property, considerations of a legal or contractual nature, and basic behavioral stipulations.
Basic Information
- Names of roommates
- Residence address
- Term of the lease
- Rent (and how to divide amongst residents)
- Security deposit
- Utilities (and how they will be paid)
- Parking
Legal Considerations
- Whether rental insurance will be purchased
- How damages will be rectified
- Terms for early termination
- Room assignments or living arrangement
- Shared property
- Shared costs
Behavioral Stipulations
- Pets
- Overnight guests
- Parties / Entertaining
- Chores and household duties
- Cleanliness expectations
- Noise level and quiet hours
- Smoking and alcohol use
Why You Need a Roommate Agreement and How to Bring It Up
When you sign a Roommate Agreement, the law recognizes that two adults agreed to a certain set of rights and obligations. Unlike a verbal promise, a written agreement carries more weight and can be enforced. While a judge will enforce financial obligations like a roommate’s responsibility to pay rent, you will not likely get the court to agree that they should vacuum the living room.
For example, many roommate contracts stipulate terms similar to the following:
- A roommate’s girlfriend or boyfriend cannot sleep over more than one night per week
- Each person will contribute $10 a month for shared toilet paper and cleaning supplies
- Ask each other for permission before having more than 3 friends over
- Turn off the music and ask guests to leave after 10pm on weekdays
- A housemate’s little brother cannot sleep on the living room couch for more than a week
Many universities, including Northern Arizona University, Oregon State University, Emory University, and University of Massachusetts Amherst encourage or require students to use Roommate Agreements for on-campus or off-campus housing. Some towns and cities like the City of Boulder even offer suggestions for avoiding roommate disputes.
When approaching a roommate about creating one, be sure to note the benefits to communication and clarity that a roommate contract promotes. While some roommates, especially close friends, might be skeptical of putting part of your relationship on paper, remind them it may go a long way in preserving your friendship in the long run.
This form also helps people solve little problems before they become big problems. If you were to neglect using a contract with your roommates, you may face a few of the following:
- Lost money
- Others pick pay more rent because one person moves out early without notice
- Security deposit lost because of damage to the common areas
- Lost time
- Unexpected search for a replacement housemate
- Hours of discussions about what should or should not have been done
- Cleaning up after another person’s mess or unwelcome gathering
- Lost property
- Damaged personal items borrowed without permission
- Furniture in public areas broken by others’ guests
Roommate Agreement
This Roommate Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of ____/____/_____, by and between the roommates listed below (each a “Roommate” and collectively the “Roommates”). The Roommates are tenants at the premises located at (the “Premises”):
Street Address: ______________________________________________________
City: ________________________State: _______________________ Zip: _______
Term of Lease – From: _____/_____/___________ To: _____/_____/___________
| Roommate Name | Monthly Rent | Security Deposit | Room Occupied |
Security Deposit: The total security deposit under the Lease is __________. Each Roommate is responsible for his or her share of the security deposit as described above, and will receive his or her share of the security deposit minus any amount applied by the Landlord after the termination of the Lease.
Utilities: The rent includes __________________ as part of each payment. The utilities not included in the rent will be shared by the Roommates according to the following arrangement:
| Utility | Name on Bill | Payment Method (circle one) |
| Electricity | Even Split | Rotating | Specific Roommate(s): | |
| Water | Even Split | Rotating | Specific Roommate(s): | |
| Gas | Even Split | Rotating | Specific Roommate(s): | |
| Garbage | Even Split | Rotating | Specific Roommate(s): | |
| Internet | Even Split | Rotating | Specific Roommate(s): | |
| Phone | Even Split | Rotating | Specific Roommate(s): | |
| Cable | Even Split | Rotating | Specific Roommate(s): | |
| Other | Even Split | Rotating | Specific Roommate(s): |
Parking: The Roommates are entitled to park their vehicles on the Premises per the following instructions:
| Roommate | Make and Color of Vehicle | Parking Spot Location / Description |
Legal Considerations:
- Will the Roommates purchase Renters Insurance: No _______ Yes ______
Insurance Company: __________________ Signer: ________ Monthly Rate: ______
- Damages: Each Roommate is responsible for any damage to the Premises caused by him or her including his or her guests. If there is damage that cannot be reasonably traced back to a particular Roommate, the cost of the damage will be shared equally by all the Roommates.
- Early Termination: A Roommate may terminate this Agreement before the end of the lease term if he or she gives ______ months notice and assists in finding a replacement Roommate.
- Shared Costs: The Roommates will evenly split all costs for items used by all the Roommates and placed in common areas, unless otherwise agreed upon.
- Shared Property: All shared property will be paid for evenly, unless otherwise agreed upon. At the end of the lease term or when the Roommates terminate this Agreement, shared property will be split between the Roommates, or a Roommate may purchase shared property from the other Roommates.
Behavioral Stipulations:
- Pets: Can pets be kept at the Premises: No ___________ Yes__________
It is the duty of the owner to care and provide for the pet. The owners and pets are as follows:
| Roommate | Type | Owner / Roommate Responsible |
- Chores / Household Duties: Chores and duties will be discussed weekly / monthly (circle one), and individual responsibilities will be agreed upon at those times. Each Roommate must complete his or her chores to the full extent in a timely fashion.
- Cleanliness Expectations: Each Roommate will keep his or her bedroom and bathroom, as well as the Common Area, including the grounds and all appliances, fixtures and furnishings, in clean, sanitary and good condition and repair. Each Roommate will maintain the cleanliness and neatness of the Common Area and share in the responsibility of cleaning the Common Area.
- Overnight Guests: Guests are allowed: No _____ Yes ______ Only if previously discussed ______
- Noise Level / Quiet Hours: The Roommates are expected to keep noise down to a reasonable level during the day. After ________PM and until _______ AM, noise should be kept to a minimum.
- Parties / Entertaining: Each Roommate may have up to _____ friends over at a time. Any more than this amount should be discussed with all the Roommates at least _____ day(s) prior. Parties must be agreed upon by all the Roommates and planned at least _____ day(s) prior.
- Smoking and Alcohol Use: The Roommates are allowed to smoke in the following areas: __________________________________________________________________________. Drinking alcohol is allowed between _____ AM/PM and _____ AM/PM. The Roommates are responsible for maintaining reasonable standards of behavior and level of noise.
Additional Terms:
- Severability: If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part, the remaining provisions shall not be affected and shall continue to be valid and enforceable as though the invalid or unenforceable parts had not been included in this Agreement.
- Governing Law:The terms of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of __________, not including its conflicts of law provisions.
- Entire Agreement: This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the Roommates and supersedes and cancels all prior agreements of the parties, whether oral or written, with respect to such subject matter.
- Amendments: This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written agreement signed by all Roommates.