A practical guide to creating a roommate agreement that covers rent splits, chores, guest policies, and conflict resolution before problems start.
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Rent and Utility Split
Decide on a fair rent split method
Equal split works for same-size rooms, but rooms with private bathrooms, more square footage, or better light justify a 10-20% premium. A 200 sq ft room vs. a 150 sq ft room in a $2,400/month apartment could split $1,300/$1,100 rather than $1,200/$1,200.
Measure each bedroom's square footage
Factor in closet space, windows, and bathroom access
Establish a utility payment system
Put utilities in one person's name and split the bill monthly, or rotate which roommate pays. Average monthly utilities for a 2-bedroom apartment run $200-$400. Use a bill-splitting app to track payments and avoid awkward conversations.
Decide whose name goes on each utility account
Set a monthly payment deadline (e.g., 3 days after bill arrives)
Agree on what happens if one roommate pays late
If the lease holds all tenants jointly liable, one person's late payment affects everyone's credit and rental history. Agree that rent is due 3-5 days before the landlord's deadline, giving a buffer to cover any delays.
Cleaning and Chores
Create a rotating cleaning schedule for shared spaces
Assign kitchen, bathroom, and common area cleaning on a weekly rotation. Write it on a shared calendar or whiteboard. Vague agreements like 'we'll both keep it clean' fail within weeks — specific assignments with dates prevent 90% of roommate conflicts.
List all shared-space cleaning tasks
Assign weekly rotations on a shared calendar
Set standards for kitchen cleanliness
Agree on a specific rule: dishes washed within 12-24 hours of use, counters wiped after cooking, fridge cleaned out every 2 weeks. 'Clean enough' means different things to different people — specific timelines remove ambiguity.
Decide on shared vs. personal household supplies
Common approaches: split all household supplies 50/50 ($30-$60/month each for cleaning products, paper goods, dish soap), or each person buys their own. A shared supply fund with a $50/month contribution from each roommate works well for most households.
Guest and Overnight Visitor Policy
Set limits on overnight guest frequency
A common rule is 2-3 overnight stays per week for a partner before it affects shared resources (water, electricity, bathroom time). If someone's partner is staying 5+ nights per week, they're effectively a third roommate and should contribute to rent and utilities.
Agree on guest notification expectations
A simple text message 2-4 hours before a guest arrives gives your roommate time to adjust. For parties or gatherings of 5+ people, agree on 48 hours' advance notice. This isn't about permission — it's about not being surprised by strangers in your home.
Establish rules for guests using shared spaces
Guests should follow the same quiet hours and kitchen cleanup rules as roommates. The host roommate is responsible for their guest's behavior, including cleaning up after parties and replacing anything broken. Write this into the agreement explicitly.
Quiet Hours and Shared Spaces
Set quiet hours for weeknights and weekends
A typical agreement sets weeknight quiet hours at 10 PM-8 AM and weekend quiet hours at midnight-9 AM. 'Quiet' means no loud music, TV at conversation volume, and no phone calls in shared spaces. Headphones after quiet hours is a simple, enforceable rule.
Divide shared storage space equally
Split refrigerator shelves, kitchen cabinets, and bathroom shelf space evenly and label them. A $10 pack of shelf labels prevents months of passive-aggressive food boundary disputes. Shared items like condiments go on a designated shared shelf.
Label fridge shelves and cabinet sections
Designate one shelf for shared items
Agree on thermostat settings
Temperature disagreements are one of the top 5 roommate conflicts. Set a winter range of 68-70°F and a summer range of 72-76°F. Each degree of heating above 68°F adds roughly 3% to energy costs, so a compromise range saves both money and arguments.
Shared Expenses Beyond Rent
Decide how to handle shared subscriptions
Streaming services, internet, and any shared subscriptions should be listed with the cost and who pays. For a $70/month internet bill and 2-3 streaming services ($15-$20 each), a shared entertainment fund of $50-$60/person/month covers everything.
Set a policy on shared furniture and appliances
Document who owns which pieces of shared furniture (couch, TV, kitchen table) before move-in. Take photos. When someone moves out, they take what they brought. Items purchased together should have a pre-agreed buyout price or be sold and split 50/50.
Create a system for tracking shared expenses
Use a shared expense-tracking app rather than mental accounting. Settle balances monthly rather than per-transaction. Small debts under $5 should be forgiven to prevent nickel-and-diming from eroding the relationship.
Move-Out Terms and Conflict Resolution
Agree on a minimum notice period for moving out
60 days' written notice gives the remaining roommate time to find a replacement. The departing roommate should help find their replacement by posting the listing and being available for showings. This is both courteous and practical.
Define what happens to the lease if one person leaves
On a joint lease, the departing roommate is still liable until the landlord releases them. Negotiate with the landlord to remove the departing tenant's name once a qualified replacement is found. Get this in writing from the landlord before the original roommate moves out.
Establish a conflict resolution process
Agree to address issues within 48 hours through a direct conversation, not passive-aggressive behavior. If a direct conversation fails, bring in a neutral third party (mutual friend, building mediator). Most roommate relationships fail not from big issues but from small ones left unspoken for months.
Sign and date the agreement together
Both roommates should sign two copies of the agreement so each person has one. While roommate agreements aren't always legally enforceable like leases, a signed document carries weight in small claims court and prevents 'I never agreed to that' arguments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a roommate agreement legally enforceable?
A written roommate agreement is generally enforceable as a contract in most states, though enforcement is limited to small claims court for financial disputes (rent, utilities, damages). The agreement is separate from the lease — it governs the relationship between roommates, not between tenants and the landlord. Having the agreement signed, dated, and witnessed (or notarized for extra weight) strengthens its standing if a dispute reaches mediation or court.
How should roommates split rent when bedrooms are different sizes?
The most common fair-split method assigns each bedroom a percentage based on square footage, then splits common areas equally — a 150 sq ft room pays less than a 200 sq ft room with an en-suite bathroom. Apps like Splitwise's rent calculator and the "Sperner's Lemma" method assign rooms based on each person's willingness to pay. For a 2-bedroom apartment at $2,400/month where the primary bedroom is 30% larger and has a private bathroom, a typical split is $1,350/$1,050 rather than a straight $1,200/$1,200.
What happens if one roommate stops paying rent?
If all roommates are on the same lease, each person is "jointly and severally liable" — meaning the landlord can pursue any one tenant for the full rent amount, not just their share. The remaining roommates must cover the shortfall to avoid an eviction filing that appears on everyone's record. Your roommate agreement should specify that a roommate who fails to pay their share within 5-7 days of the due date must vacate within 30 days and forfeit their portion of the security deposit.
Should all roommates be on the lease?
Having all roommates on the lease protects the landlord and gives every tenant equal legal rights to occupy the space — no one can be kicked out except through the formal eviction process. If only one person is on the lease, they bear full financial responsibility while the other roommates are technically subtenants with fewer protections. The trade-off is that if one on-lease roommate wants to leave, breaking or modifying the lease requires the landlord's cooperation and agreement from all parties.