Renting a Home:
Deciding to Rent
Who Will Live There? More About Roommates
You may be planning to live alone, with one or more roommates or with your family. Who will live in the apartment can affect how much room is needed, the amenities desired and the amount of money available to pay for rent. If you are planning to share an apartment with one or more roommates, read the section on roommates that covers issues you will need to talk about before you sign a lease. If you are going to live alone or with your family, you can skip to the What Can You Afford?
If you are planning to rent a place to live with one or more roommates, you need to openly discuss the legal arrangements, expenses and day–to–day use of the rental unit. Some of the issues to be decided and written into an agreement could include:
- Legal issues of the rental contract
- What name(s) will be on the lease?
- What happens if a roommate does not pay their share of the rent?
- Who is legally liable for rent if a roommate moves out?
- Utilities and accounts
- What services (telephone, cable TV, etc.) will you want?
- In whose name will the services be provided?
- How will costs be shared?
- Household expenses
- Food?
- Toiletries?
- Laundry?
- Cleaning Supplies?
- Lifestyle issues
- What are the waking and sleeping patterns?
- What are the study and entertainment patterns?
- What are the cleanliness standards?
- Who will do which household chores?
Although you may have agreed to do certain things, you or your roommate(s) later may be dissatisfied with some of the arrangements. You may want to review the living situation at the end of the first month and every three or six months after that. This approach can allow you to work out differences and minimize conflict. The Roommate Agreement Sample can help you determine what you want to include.
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