Roommate Responsibilities

Be the best roommate possible.

Living with a roommate is an important decision for people at many stages of life. College students are commonly assigned roommates when living on campus, and professionals find that it is an efficient method of keeping housing costs low. Regardless of how you come to live with someone else, there are basic rules that you can follow to have a positive relationship with your roommate.

Be Open and Upfront

Being open and upfront in the early stages of rooming with someone can prevent misunderstandings and complications down the road. Be honest about your habits and expectations and be open to your roommates. Communicate about what you find acceptable and things that make you uncomfortable. Because not all issues will be raised in the beginning, remain honest and upfront with your roommate as time goes on. Address issues as they arise as objectively and as respectful as possible.

Chores

In a shared dwelling, roommates also share responsibility for the cleanliness and upkeep of the room or apartment. Generally, each person is responsible for taking care of his own space and for usage of common areas. Everyone has different tolerance levels when it comes to tidiness, so you should establish guidelines that everyone can live with, such as "dishes should be washed within 24 hours." Lead by example, making sure to take care of your responsibility to keep the apartment tidy.

Rent

If you and your roommates pay rent to a landlord, it is a clear responsibility of your roommate to pay her fair share -- and unacceptable when she doesn't. Ideally, you can establish deadlines by which you and your roommates must chip in for rent. This date can be up to a few days before the first of the month (when rent is due).

Courtesy

It's your responsibility to consider your roommate's feelings before you do anything that might have an effect on her, and vice versa. A little forethought before you begin an activity that might seem disruptive or inappropriate is an effective strategy for a happy coexistence. This applies to things such as noise level, borrowing personal items without asking and inviting friends over at odd or inappropriate times. It's your responsibility not to assume your roommate will be "OK" with whatever you do and to give a heads up or simply ask before making a decision that affects others you live with.

Privacy

Living in a shared space automatically puts you in a position of decreased privacy. This makes respecting each other's privacy that much more important. Rummaging through your roommate's personal items or room is generally unacceptable, as is encroaching on personal space time like bathroom time. This may also apply to moments when your roommate is sharing personal time with her significant others and family.

Safety

Roommates are mutually responsible for the safety of your room or home. This also applies to your roommate's property, which you should respect as though it were your own. Keeping your home safe includes things like remembering to lock the door when leaving, ensuring property isn't stolen (to the best of your ability) during parties or gatherings, and closing the windows during storms so items aren't damaged.

References

• Apartment Guide: How to Be the Best Roommate