There are many possibilities when it comes to roommate agreements. You and your roommate can work up a draft together before moving in or use a generic free roommate agreements, roommate rental agreements or a roommate lease agreement template found online. Which route you take depends entirely upon the ground rules you wish to set for your living arrangement.

What are roommate agreements?

Roommate agreements are a set of ground rules upon which your arrangement is based. The contents of the agreements can vary. Some focus solely upon the financial and business aspect, roommate rental agreements or a roommate lease agreement, for example. These agreements may outline the amount of rent each party takes on, terms of rent payment, length of the lease, conditions for breaking the lease, etc.

Other roommate agreements are broader in scope and cover aspects of daily living, such as division of housekeeping, whether or not overnight guests are allowed, a policy on pets, etc. These roommate agreements are more a set of housemate rules than a specification of financial obligations.

The best type of agreement to sign with your roommate is a matter of personal preference. It depends entirely upon the conditions of your living arrangement, terms outlined in your lease or obligations to your landlord.

Creating your own roommate agreements

If you and your roommate prefer to work up the terms of your agreement together, use the following list as a guide for what to include.

?terms for paying rent ? Specify the amount of rent each person must pay, when it is due and consequences for late payments

?conditions for ending the arrangement ? Outline how much advance notice each of you must provide the other before moving out, and in what form it must take (advance written notice is the norm)

?division of living space ? Assign bedrooms or terms for using shared living areas or resources such as the telephone or television.

?division of housekeeping duties ? Establish a schedule for sharing routine upkeep duties or assign specific tasks.

?handling of household finances ? Outline your plan for covering shared expenses such as utilities, household cleaning items or groceries. If each person is responsible for their own food, spell it out in your agreement

?conflict resolution ? Make a plan for resolving minor as well as major issues that may arise. This could include anything from monthly house meetings for minor issues to use of a mediator for larger conflicts you cannot resolve alone.