What To Include in a Roommate Agreement (with Sample Text)

A roommate agreement is a great way to ensure that both you and your housemate(s) are on the exact same page when it comes to expectations and responsibilities. Living with a roommate isn’t always easy, especially if you’re both trying to read the other’s mind. And while there’s no guarantee that you’ll always get along, setting up a roommate agreement ensures that, at the very least, you both have a guideline for what your living situation will look like.

Keep in mind that a roommate agreement is different than a lease. A lease sets expectations between tenant and landlord, while a roommate agreement sets expectations between tenant and tenant. Similar to a lease, however, is what this agreement entails—notably a clear outline of the duties and obligations that will help you live in harmony. Equally important is that it forces you to have a conversation about (and hopefully avoid) the common problems that can cause strife in your home.

Unfortunately, roommate agreements aren’t nearly as common as they should be. But chances are high that either you or someone you know has found themselves dealing with a less than ideal roommate situation that could have been avoided with a simple outline of individual and collective obligations set out right at the beginning.

So what should a roommate agreement include? Make sure that you cover all of your bases by outlining specifics of each of the eight factors below.

Rent

Utilities

Home Duties

Guests

Quiet Hours

Division of Space

Food

Early Move Out

Other things that you may want to include in your roommate agreement include whether you intend to share common household items like toilet paper and cleaning supplies, and who is responsible for making the purchase. Consider including guidelines around parties too, such as whether parties are allowed, whether permission of both roommates is required, and whether there are any party behaviors that are not allowed in the unit, like drinking or smoking.

Put your roommate agreement in writing, and have both parties sign and print their names on the document. Then make a copy so you both have the agreement on hand. The earlier you do it the better, so aim to have your roommate agreement completed and signed before moving day, and ideally, before you even put both of your names on a lease.