Tenant Resource Guide
Roommates
215 articles9 sections10 state guides
Setting up a shared rental
- Creating a Roommate Agreement: What to IncludeStart here Set each roommate's rent, bill, and deposit share plus rules on guests, pets, and moving out. The agreement binds the roommates who sign it, not the landlord.
- Adding a Roommate to Your Lease: Process and Considerations Ask the landlord in writing, have the new roommate apply, then sign a lease amendment or new lease. Moving someone in without approval can violate your lease.
- How to Find and Screen a Compatible Roommate Look first among people you can vet through others, then screen each candidate the same way: habits, ID, income, past landlords, and credit shared with consent.
House rules
- Guest Policies: Setting Boundaries With Roommates Roommate guest rules must respect enforceable lease limits and state occupancy rights; a partner may be allowed to move in without landlord approval.
- Roommate Pets: Rules and Considerations A roommate's pet must follow lease rules, and on a joint lease any tenant can be charged for pet damage. Assistance animal requests go to the landlord.
- Setting Shared Space Rules With Roommates Write rules for the kitchen, bathroom, living areas, and storage, plus a cleaning rotation. State laws make each tenant keep the unit clean and sanitary.
Rent, bills, and damage
- Are You Liable for Your Roommate's Damage? On a joint lease, usually yes: the landlord can deduct a roommate's damage from the shared deposit and sue any tenant for the rest.
- What to Do When Your Roommate Won't Pay Rent Pay the full rent on time so no one gets a pay-or-quit notice, then demand the share in writing and sue in small claims. You cannot evict a co-tenant yourself.
- How to Split Bills and Expenses With Roommates Split each shared bill equally, by rent share, or by usage, and write the rule down. The account holder collects shares before the due date, with a payment record.
- Whose Name Should Utilities Be In With Roommates? The roommate named on a utility account owes the whole bill and takes the credit damage. Split accounts or add names, and put everyone's share in writing.
Leaving or removing a roommate
- Removing a Roommate From Your Lease Only your landlord can take a roommate off a lease, by signing a release or a new lease. You cannot evict or lock out a co-tenant, and a subtenant needs court.
- What Happens When a Roommate Moves Out Early On a joint lease, the roommates who stay still owe the full rent, and the one who left stays liable until the landlord releases them in writing.
Conflicts and mediation
- Resolving Roommate Conflicts: A Practical Guide Settle money, chore, guest, and noise disputes with a direct talk and written terms. Landlords step in only for lease violations; mediation and small claims come next.
- Roommate Mediation: When to Seek Outside Help Use a mediator when talks with a roommate stall. Community, court, and campus programs are often free, and a signed agreement can be enforced like a contract.
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