Roommate agreements are becoming increasingly common since they clearly define all household obligations. They cover all you need to know to keep your roommate’s relationship healthy. A decent roommate agreement spells out everything from how to split rent, utilities, and cleaning chores to the regulations for noise and visitors.
What is the definition of a roommate agreement?
A roommate agreement is, at its most basic level, a strategy to prevent disagreements. Your roommate is the individual with whom you share living quarters. They aren’t necessarily your closest companions. You don’t want to quarrel with them, even if they are.
“A roommate agreement outlines each tenant’s responsibilities and obligations in the rental home “According to The Balance. This creates a formal document that settles disagreements between you and your roommate before they become a full-fledged battle. “This agreement proves that you both agreed to carry out certain tasks.”
What is the purpose of a roommate agreement?
Surprisingly, there are a variety of topics on which you and your roommate may differ. It’s not just about dividing the rent or figuring out how to pay for food. What if your roommate is a drummer in a band and you’re working on your master’s degree? What if you’re single and your roommate insists on having their significant other around every night? These are topics that go beyond the practicalities of living in an apartment. They’re also potential hotbeds of strife.
You’ll have a lot more tranquil living environment if you spend some time before you move in deciding how domestic tasks, overnight visitors, food shopping, and other things will be handled. Putting your decisions in writing will save you a lot of time and money in the long run.
What should a roommate agreement contain?
The majority of example roommate agreements concentrate on four main areas: basic expenditures, additional charges, tasks, and home rules. You should obviously address these, but you should also take the time to consider how you want to live. If you have any peculiarities, make sure to include them in your roommate agreement. Establish a rule that restricts your roommate’s clutter to his or her room if you’re a complete clean freak and your roommate enjoys a bit of a mess. When it comes to a roommate arrangement, nothing is off limits to talk and figure out in advance.
- The basics
Determine what portion each roommate will pay and in what manner to deliver the payment, even if your agreement specifies how much rent is required each month. Remember that rent does not have to break even, especially if the bedrooms are substantially different in size. The only thing that has to happen is that you and your partner agree on how you’ll split the principal expense.
- Expenses
After you’ve paid your rent, you can focus on the remainder of the shared expenditures that come with renting an apartment. These expenses include not just utilities, internet, and other fees, but also items not included in the lease, such as food and cleaning supplies. Which credit card will you use if you set up automatic payments for any bills? What is the deadline for the other roommate(s) to pay their share? Decide if you’ll share more products or have everyone purchase their own. Decide on the ideal cost-splitting plan if you’re sharing. You don’t want to offend anyone, and you surely don’t want to be late with a payment.
- Household chores
You’ll also need to work out how to divide up the cleaning responsibilities. Make your expectations clear and discuss how you’d want to divide home tasks (anything from washing dishes to putting out the trash). Include a cleaning schedule as well as who will be responsible for what. Even if you vacuum every other month, your roommate may not believe your flat is “clean.”
- Personal preferences
It’s completely appropriate to incorporate house rules for behaviour in your flat in a roommate agreement. Address issues such as overnight visitors, noise, pet care, and smoking. Include the unusual questions, such as whether or not it is OK for individuals to wear their shoes in the flat. It’s best to be upfront about your eccentricities now than later when you’re confronted with an unpleasant surprise.