What Is a Roommate Agreement?

A roommate agreement is a written document that outlines the expectations and responsibilities of each person living in a shared rental space. The agreement, while may not be legally binding like a lease agreement, is a way to resolve disputes and prevent misunderstandings about rules, rent payments, chores, guests, and other potential conflicts that may come up while living together.

What to include in a roommate agreement

When creating a roommate agreement, think about potential situations that may cause tension. The agreement should address financial responsibilities, household duties, and rules that will help prevent conflicts and create a harmonious living situation for everyone on the lease.

1. Rent payments

List each roommate’s portion of the rent, the due date, and who’s responsible for sending the full payment to the landlord. Will rent be split evenly? Will one roommate get a discount for agreeing to take the smaller bedroom? Spell out the specifics in the agreement. Setting clear expectations can help prevent late or missed rent payments because of confusion. Imagine your roommate thought they were supposed to send their portion directly to the landlord, while you waited for their Venmo to pay the full rent amount.

2. Utilities and bills

Outline which utilities you’ll share (like water, gas, electricity, internet, streaming services) and who’s responsible for setting up, managing, and paying each bill. Then specify how costs will be divided.

Nothing kills the vibe like getting a $200 electric bill in July and realizing your upstairs roommate has been blasting the AC at 65 degrees, while you’ve been sweating it out to save money downstairs.

3. Security deposit

Note who contributed what to the initial security deposit and how it will be handled if someone moves out early or causes damage. This prevents confusion when the lease ends and your deposit is returned, especially if you don’t get your full security deposit back.  

When your roommate’s cat scratches up the hardwood floors and moves out two months before the lease ends, you’ll be glad you documented who’s responsible for what.

4. Moving out early

Include how much notice is required if someone wants to leave the lease early, whether they need to find a replacement, pay a penalty, or cover their share until the lease ends.

Life happens, including job changes, relationship changes, and family emergencies. Having a plan for when a roommate moves out early helps avoid leaving you and other roommates to cover the extra rent costs.

5. Guests and overnight stays

Everyone has different comfort levels with visitors. Set expectations for how often overnight guests can stay, how long they can visit, and whether advance notice is needed.

Your roommate’s partner staying over “just for the weekend” three weekends in a row essentially means you have an extra roommate who isn’t paying rent or utilities.

6. Pets

If pets are allowed, specify what kind, who’s responsible for care and cleanup, and whether shared spaces have any restrictions.

While you may love dogs, you might not love stepping on kibble in the kitchen. Likewise, having your roommate’s cat use your favorite armchair as a scratching post may be something you want to address before the issue comes up. Since 58% of renters report having at least one pet, according to 2024 Zillow research, it’s especially important to agree on pet rules upfront to avoid messes, damage, or clashing expectations.

7. Quiet hours and noise

Outline timeframes when noise should be minimal, considering different work or class schedules. Include rules for how late music can be played, what days of the week are acceptable for parties, and even consider how loud is too loud for phone calls.

If you work early morning shifts, you might not be happy if your roommate wakes you up while playing video games at 2 am.

8. Cleaning responsibilities

Decide how to keep shared spaces clean. Plan for rotating weekly chores, assigning specific tasks, or hiring a cleaning service and splitting the cost.

That pile of dishes “soaking” in the sink for three days isn’t actually getting cleaner, and passive-aggressive sticky notes rarely solve the problem.

9. Food and kitchen storage

Some roommates split groceries and cook together; others keep everything separate. Set clear expectations for fridge, pantry, and cabinet space.

Coming home hungry to find your roommate used your last eggs for breakfast (again) is a surprisingly effective way to ruin the day.

10. Bathroom and kitchen scheduling

Create informal time blocks or etiquette rules for high-traffic areas, especially during busy morning and evening hours.

Nothing starts the day worse than waiting 20 minutes to brush your teeth because someone’s doing a full skincare routine when you need to leave for work.

11. Temperature control

Whether it’s a shared thermostat or individual space heaters, agree on a comfortable temperature range to avoid utility bill battles.

The person who runs cold, cranking the heat to 78 degree,s while the person who runs hot is opening windows to cool down, is a recipe for both conflict and sky-high energy bills.

12. Conflict resolution

Disagreements will happen, but it’s how you handle them that matters. Include a simple plan: direct conversation, group discussion, or bringing in a neutral third party.

Having a predetermined approach prevents small issues from festering into friendship-ending blowouts or awkward silent treatment situations.

How to make a roommate agreement

Creating a roommate agreement doesn’t have to feel like drafting a corporate contract or sitting through a tense family meeting. The key is approaching it as a collaborative conversation rather than laying down the law. Here’s how to make the process smooth so living with a roommate is actually enjoyable.

1. Start with an open conversation

Set aside time before moving in (or shortly after if you’re already living together) for an honest discussion about expectations. This isn’t an interrogation; it’s more like planning a group trip where everyone gets to share what matters to them.

You’ll discover things you never would have thought to ask. Maybe your future roommate is a light sleeper who needs complete silence after 10pm, or perhaps they’re hoping to host their book club monthly. Better to know now than find out during their first 15-person gathering.

2. Put it in writing

Even if you all agree verbally and everyone seems on the same page, write it down. Keep the tone friendly and conversational, but be specific about the details. Think “Hey, just so we’re all clear…” rather than “The parties hereby agree…”

Six months from now, when someone swears they never agreed to alternate buying toilet paper, you’ll have a reference point that doesn’t rely on anyone’s memory.

3. Address how you’ll handle problems

This is the part most people want to skip because it feels awkward, but it’s actually the most important. Outline how you’ll talk through issues before they become major conflicts. Will you bring things up in person? Send a group text? Schedule monthly check-ins?

Having a predetermined approach prevents that awful situation where everyone’s annoyed but nobody wants to be the one to bring up the problem, so tension just builds until someone explodes over something minor.

4. Make it accessible and practical

Store your agreement in a location that everyone can easily access, like a shared Google Doc or printed copy in a kitchen drawer. Consider using shared tools like calendars for chore schedules or budget apps for tracking shared expenses.

If your agreement lives in someone’s email, buried under 200 other messages, it might as well not exist. Easy access means people can actually reference it when questions come up.

5. Bring in an accountability buddy

This might sound cheesy, but having someone outside your living situation to help keep everyone accountable actually works. It could be a mutual friend who can check in periodically or someone you all trust to give honest feedback when issues come up.

You don’t need a formal mediator. Maybe it’s your friend who’s survived roommate disasters and isn’t afraid to call everyone out when they’re being unreasonable. Or it's someone’s older sibling who can provide perspective during group texts when tensions are high. The key is having an outside voice with perspective when you’re all too close to the situation to see clearly. 

6. Sign it together

Having everyone sign the agreement might feel formal, but it’s actually a positive moment that shows you’re all committed to making the living situation work. Make it a mini celebration; order pizza and make it official!

People tend to take commitments more seriously when they’ve actually signed their name to them. Plus, this will mark the official start of your roommate relationship on a collaborative note.

7. Review and update regularly

Set a reminder to revisit the agreement every few months, or whenever someone new moves in. Living situations evolve when work schedules change, people get into relationships, or someone adopts a pet, and your agreement should adapt too.

An agreement that worked perfectly when you all moved in might need tweaking once someone starts working from home full-time or begins training for a marathon that requires 5 am wake-ups.

Roommate agreement checklist

Ready to create your own roommate agreement? Use the checklist below to get started. You can copy it into a shared Google Doc, print it out for your coffee table discussion, or screenshot it to reference while you’re talking through each topic:

• Rent amounts, due dates, and payment process
• Utility responsibilities and cost splits
• Security deposit contributions and refund terms
• Guest policies and overnight stay limits
• Pet rules and care responsibilities
• Quiet hours and noise expectations
• Cleaning responsibilities and schedules
• Food sharing rules and storage plans
• Bathroom and kitchen use guidelines
• Temperature control and thermostat settings
• Early move-out notice and financial terms
• Conflict resolution plan
• Everyone’s signatures and date

Whether you’re about to move into your first shared apartment or trying to improve an existing living situation, a thoughtful roommate agreement helps transform a group of individual renters into a household that actually functions well together.