When you start sharing your living space with someone, it's hard to predict all the situations. Living together carries many challenges, and to avoid them, you should address them before you move in together. Many people think it's enough to establish some unwritten rules, especially if you're living with friends.
However, that may not be valid in all situations. For example, if your roommate avoids paying rent or paying for the damage, they may have caused while you were away. A Roommate Agreement can help you resolve this issue, saving you a lot of time and anxiety.
What is a Roommate Agreement?
A Roommate Agreement is an official written document signed by two or more parties living together in the same house or apartment. Parts of this document are legally-binding (usually the financial aspect), and thus, much more potent than a simple verbal agreement.
This document aims to outline responsibilities and expectations from each tenant that have to be respected. There are more ways to create a Roommate Agreement, as everything depends on what you and your roommates consider essential.
Some of the things you could cover in the Roommate Agreement are paying rent on time, paying other expenses you share, such as utilities, and paying for damage you may have caused. Some people include different rules, such as an agreement you won't have large parties when your roommate has to study.
A Roommate Agreement can be signed both by strangers sharing an apartment or by friends who are living together. It's essential to note that this is an agreement between tenants and doesn't have to include your landlord.
Other Names for Roommate Agreement
Depending on your state, a Roommate Agreement may also be known as:
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Roommate Contract
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Room Rental Agreement
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Housemate Agreement
Who Needs a Roommate Agreement?
The best answer would be that everyone needs a Roommate Agreement, at least a simple one, just in case. A Roommate Agreement is usually signed by strangers sharing an apartment who don't know each other well. However, more and more people decide to create a Roommate Agreement even if they're living with their friends they've known for years.
There are numerous reasons why this is beneficial. A Roommate Agreement sets clear expectations and helps people follow the rules they've previously agreed to verbally. Although it could seem that a document like this threatens your friendship, it could help you preserve your friendship and avoid potential conflicts.
If you're uncomfortable with suggesting your friend sign a Roommate Agreement, try to explain to them all the benefits of this document. Make sure to mention this won't affect your friendship in any way, and they'll also be protected if you fail to satisfy some of the requirements.
Roommate Agreements are particularly crucial for students, and some universities encourage students to use them in on-campus housing. For example, if one roommate likes throwing parties and inviting friends over, they should be responsible for their guests' eventual damage. This may seem natural to ask verbally to you, but it's sometimes better to have it in writing!
Why Use 360 Legal Forms for Your Roommate Agreement
Customized for you, by you
Create your own documents by answering our easy-to-understand questionnaires to get exactly what you need out of your Roommate Agreement.
Specific to Your Jurisdiction
Laws vary by location. Each document on 360 Legal Forms is customized for your state.
Fast and easy
All you have to do is fill out a simple questionnaire, print, and sign. No printer? No worries. You and other parties can even sign online.
How to Create a Roommate Agreement with 360 Legal Forms?
Creating a Roommate Agreement with 360 Legal Forms is one of the easiest ways to do it. All you have to do is select a form you like and fill it in with your personal information and those of other tenants. We'll create a document that follows the law, and you can then download it as a PDF or Word document, whatever suits you better.
What Details Will I Need to Create My Roommate Agreement?
To create your document, please provide:
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Effective Date: The date when the Roommate Agreement will go into effect. It would be best to sign it before you move in together, but you can do it at any point.
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The Parties Involved: Names and personal details of tenants who are signing the Agreement.
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Residence Address: Full address of house or apartment you're sharing.
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Details of the Rental Agreement: Details from the agreement signed from the landlord, such as the lease start and end date.
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Landlord's Name and Contact Information: It's not obligatory, but it can make it easier to address specific damage compensation issues.
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Terms of Paying Rent: Explain payment mode and schedule and how it'll be divided between roommates.
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Utilities: Explain payment mode and plan when it comes to utilities and how it'll be split between roommates.
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Shared Costs: Name any shared costs you'll have (cleaning supplies, groceries) and payment mode and schedule.
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Damage Compensation: Explain who will be responsible for the potential damage caused.
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Maintenance: You can state the responsibilities of each roommate when it comes to maintenance or cleaning.
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Additional Information: You can set rules on smoking, having friends over, loud music, pets, or anything important to you.
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Consequences: If there are any consequences, for example, for not paying rent on time, make sure to include them in a Roommate Agreement.
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Signature: All roommates who participate in the agreement have to sign a Roommate Agreement.
Roommate Agreement Terms
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Tenants: Persons who are renting a house or an apartment together.
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Payment Mode / Payment Schedule: It states how often you will be paying rent and utilities, such as monthly, quarterly, or annually.
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Damage Compensation: Amount of money one of the roommates has to pay if they damage the apartment or anything in one of their roommates or landlord's property.
Roommate Agreement Signing Requirements
The only requirement for a Roommate Agreement is that all parties should sign it with their full, legal name. You don't have to sign it in front of a witness, although it could make it easier to prove that everything is legitimate. A witness can be anyone, but it may be a good idea to choose someone neutral, such as a neighbor, instead of your friends.
What to Do with Your Roommate Agreement
Each party signing a Roommate Agreement should obtain a copy of the document. You could make one copy for your landlord, for additional security, although that is not required.
