{"id":369231,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:19","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/realestate\/landlord-tenant-law\/landlord-tenant-overview-and-roommate-agreements.html"},"modified":"2024-06-03T14:52:00","modified_gmt":"2024-06-03T19:52:00","slug":"landlord-tenant-overview-and-roommate-agreements","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/landlord-tenant-law\/landlord-tenant-overview-and-roommate-agreements.html","title":{"rendered":"Roommate Agreements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What Are Roommate Agreements?<\/h1>\n
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\n By Melissa McCall, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Katrina Wilson, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

A roommate agreement is a contract between people who share a rental property. Co-tenants use these agreements to specify how they will share the space while living together.<\/p>\r\n

Written roommate agreements are an excellent way to avoid future problems when more than one person is on a lease agreement<\/a>. A written agreement involving all parties to the lease<\/a> is a tool to determine each roommate’s responsibilities if a conflict arises. The roommate agreement is separate from the tenants’ lease with the landlord.<\/p>\r\n

This article will explore different elements of a roommate agreement. <\/p>\r\n

Do I Need a Roommate Agreement?
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Even if making an agreement isn’t a lease requirement, it is a good idea when adding a new roommate<\/a>. Future issues can be hard to foresee and resolve \u2014 even among close friends. You probably don’t expect to sue your roommate<\/a> someday. Yet, it does happen.<\/p>\r\n

An agreement creates expectations to keep the living arrangement fair. They also provide protection and peace of mind because they are legally binding. Agreements can be valuable when addressing issues like rent nonpayment or moving out early<\/a>. <\/p>\r\n

What Do Roommate Agreements Include?<\/h2>\r\n

A roommate agreement should cover everything important to you as a roommate and a renter. Consider the conflicts that often occur in a co-living situation, and discuss how you want to handle them.<\/p>\r\n

Consider, for example, food. Some roommates wish to share groceries; others prefer to keep their food separate. Writing this down can help to resolve future conflicts and preserve the roommate relationship.<\/p>\r\n

Set House Rules<\/h3>\r\n

One major category many roommates include in their agreements is "house rules." You can spell out those rules for everyone in the home, including visitors.<\/p>\r\n

Examples of house rules include:<\/p>\r\n