How Much Rent Should a Roommate Be Charged?
Other People Are Reading
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Divide Rent and Utilities Proportionately
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If a roommate or roommates have equal access to the common areas of a home, and their private rooms are of roughly the same size, then it makes sense for roommates to pay equal shares of the rent and utilities. If one roommate has a significantly smaller room or fewer amenities, their rent obligation should be reduced accordingly.
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Special Circumstances Count
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If a roommate is primarily using the home as a "crash space" and is only there on weekends or a few nights a week, a reduction in rent might be in order. If a roommate is willing to take on extra household tasks, such as lawn care, you may want to consider reducing her rent amount in exchange for her work.
Bottom Line
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In general, a roommate's contribution to rent and household expenses should be in proportion to the amount of space and amenities available. If a roommate is away a lot, or is willing to perform chores that you might otherwise have to pay someone else to do, consider reducing their rent accordingly.
References
- Photo Credit room image by Andrey Rakhmatullin from Fotolia.com
