Roommates and Lease Agreements: A Guide for New Roommates

By Lana Oquendo

As a new renter, you have to decide where you want to live, who you want to live with, and what kind of lifestyle you’ll be anticipating in the long run. If you’ve decided to live with roommates, then you’ll have a few things to review and discuss with them before signing your lease, such as financial and legal obligations, splitting rent, and signing a roommate agreement. To make the transition easier, here are some ground rules and tips to follow to ensure your rental experience is stress-free.

Roommate Meeting

Before you move in, you should have a meeting with your roommate(s) to lay down the expectations you both have for how you want to live, what is considered private or communal, financial splitting, and lay out work schedules to figure out how to not impede on the other person’s life. During the meeting, ask them and yourself:

● What is the rent, and what can you put up towards it? This can be 50/50, 60/40, or something different, such as them covering the rent while you cover the utilities or groceries. Every dynamic is different, and you should work together to avoid putting a strain on the other person’s finances.
● Who will have guests over, and how long can they stay? Some may want to have daytime-only guests, nighttime-only guests, or even let them stay overnight. You also need to factor in how these schedules may change if work schedules shift or are temporarily adjusted for specific events, such as finals week.
● What spaces and/or appliances are you willing to share and not? Some typical communal areas include the living room and kitchen, but certain appliances, such as a personal blender or gaming console, may not be. Additionally, consider how these shared spaces may incur more costs, such as the need to split the cost of upgrades to certain appliances with your roommate(s).
● How do you prefer to communicate household issues? Is one way, such as in-person, a phone call, or a text, the best way for you and your roommate(s) to talk? Or should there be variations, such as an in-person chat to discuss cleaning expectations or a quick text to remind you to buy more milk?
● What is your schedule? You may be a daytime student or worker, while they can be a nighttime student or worker. These schedules need to be outlined to avoid sudden noises while one is sleeping or studying, and to decide who will take on cleaning up communal spaces on certain days or weeks.
● How will you contribute to household chores? In connection with the previous question, you need to go over what needs to be cleaned frequently. Would you prefer the couch to be made every morning, or is that a nonessential? Do you alternate washing the dishes nightly or weekly? Who’s doing the grocery shopping? Determine what works best, considering your schedules.
● What noise are you okay with or not okay with? You may be fine with late-night binge watching or gaming, whereas your roommate(s) want peace and quiet to sleep through the night. They may want a quiet morning to get up, whereas you can be full of energy by sunrise and do early cleaning.
● What will happen in the event of loss of income? Layoffs can happen to anyone at any time. Talk about how long they could cover their share of the bills, when/what you could chip in while they look for other work, and how this may change daily schedules.

Roommate Agreement

When you get to sign your lease, go over a roommate agreement with your roommates(s) to go over important details the lease may not cover. Some of these terms are:

● How the rent and utility bills will be split and paid
● A plan for cleaning, chores, shared supplies, and communal spaces
● Policies on overnight guests and noise levels
● How to handle a roommate moving out early
● How to cover costs for job layoffs
● Who is responsible for finding a replacement roommate

Lease Agreement

Before signing your name on the dotted line, review the key terms of your lease agreement so that you and your roommates are prepared, and inspect your new home. Be sure to:

● Conduct an In-Person Walkthrough: Before signing, take a tour of the new rental with your roommate(s) and landlord to review any previous damages and ask questions about the property. Tip: Take photos and videos of the place as proof of the condition before you move in.
● Rent and Payments: Verify the exact rent amount, due date, late fees, and acceptable payment methods. Tip: Review the roommate agreement to determine who will be responsible for the payment.
● Lease Duration: Check the exact start and end dates, as well as the process for renewing or breaking the lease early. Tip: Add those clauses to the roommate agreement.
● Subletting: Check if the lease allows subletting, in case you have future roommates who are not on the original lease. Tip: Go over who will be responsible for finding new roommates.
● Security Deposit: Understand the amount, permissible deductions, and when you can expect it back. Tip: Determine how much each person will contribute to the deposit.
● Utilities: Clarify which utilities you are responsible for (e.g., electricity, gas, water) and which are included in the rent. Tip: Outline these in the agreement for future reference.
● Maintenance and Repairs: Understand what your landlord is required to repair and who is responsible for any maintenance, including emergency repairs. Tip: Create a list of emergency repair services.
● Rules and Restrictions: Review the rules regarding pets, guests, noise, parking, and any potential renovations. Tip: Look for any ‘hidden’ restrictions in the lease, like limits on decorating or quiet hours.
● Renters Insurance: Check the lease to see if it’s required, as most places do require some form of insurance. Tip: Have your own renter’s insurance, as one person’s policy generally doesn’t cover another’s belongings or liability, and sharing a policy can create complications with claims or moving out.

Remember, before signing, that some leases have joint liability. You may be legally responsible for the full rent and damages, even if your roommate causes them.

Moving in with roommates doesn’t have to be complicated. By reaching a middle ground with them ahead of signing the lease, creating an agreement that aligns with all your current lifestyles, and working together to ensure you understand all the terms and conditions of signing a shared lease, you can make living in a shared space worthwhile.