How to Draw Up a Roommate Agreement
In your mind, it may seem ideal to have a roommate -- you'll have someone to share laughs, tears and half of the monthly expenses with. Not all roommates make your life easier, though. Create a legally binding roommate document to protect yourself from potential cohabitation drama. Do it before the first cardboard moving box appears in your living room to avoid confusion about guidelines and responsibilities. Prepare yourself for the worst just in case the agreement ever lands on a judge's bench.
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Instructions
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Calculate the division of payments for rent and utilities. Many roommates split the bills evenly, but one may pay more for a larger bedroom, private bathroom or other luxuries. Roommates in a romantic relationship should pay equal shares based on income, rather than equal amounts, according to financial expert Suze Orman. For example, each partner can put 50 percent of personal monthly income toward shared bills, whether that percentage equals $100 or $1,000. Washington's Attorney General, Rob McKenna, recommends that you include a section about the consequences of unpaid rent and bounced checks.
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Create a chore chart for all household members. Include a copy of this chart with the roommate agreement. Decide who is responsible for each chore and when they will complete it. Roommates can do chores daily, weekly or on an as-needed basis. Limit the assigned chores to shared areas, such as the kitchen and living room; allow each roommate to care for his own bedroom or bathroom as he sees fit.
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Establish guidelines for visitors. Discuss appropriate visiting hours, the amount of guests welcome at one time and whether or not to allow overnight guests. You may also wish to include rules about not allowing visitors to eat shared groceries, borrow shared belongings or hang out in bedrooms other than the host's.
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Agree upon acceptable noise levels. Be specific; your roommate may have her own idea of what constitutes a normal level of noise. Discuss an acceptable volume range for televisions, radios, alarm clocks and other noisy devices. Decide when household members can perform loud tasks such as vacuuming, running the dishwasher and washing clothes.
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Make a detailed list of each household member's personal items. Include televisions, furniture, computers and DVDs. This will prevent potential arguments when the lease expires, especially if receipts are not available to prove ownership.
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Discuss how your household will resolve conflicts and violations of the agreement. Include this as the final section of your roommate agreement. Sierra College advises roommates to develop solutions together and then write them down. Staple all resolutions to the roommate agreement.
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Sign and date the agreement. This is a very important step; an unsigned document is not valid. Give each roommate a copy of the document, and keep a master copy in a safe place. You can give your landlord a copy of the signed agreement as well.
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Tips & Warnings
Notarize your document to make it more official.
Add a section about illegal drugs, smoking or alcohol if you feel they may be an issue.
Put everything in writing; never make verbal agreements.
Ensure every roommate signs and dates each section of the agreement, as well as the end of the document.
References
Resources
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