Plain-English Roommate Agreement Summary

What a good one includes

• A clear breakdown of exact individual rent portions, security deposit contributions, and how utility bills will be split and paid each month.
• A simplified timeline of key dates, including rent due dates, utility billing cycles, lease renewal deadlines, and move-out notice windows.
• A plain-language translation of the official lease's subletting, guest, and pet policies, highlighting any strict landlord prohibitions.
• A structured section on daily living expectations, detailing agreed-upon quiet hours, cleaning schedules, and the sharing of communal household supplies.
• An actionable process for handling repairs and maintenance requests, specifying who contacts the landlord and how emergency costs are split.
• A clear exit strategy outlining how a roommate can legally move out early and the steps required to replace them on the lease safely.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Relying on verbal agreements for rent splits and deposit returns instead of putting the translated terms in writing.
• Omitting details on how utility bills are managed and whose name is legally on the utility accounts, which often leads to unpaid bills.
• Failing to clarify the landlord’s official rules on subletting and overnight guests, which can inadvertently violate the master lease.
• Skipping a clear, agreed-upon process for resolving household disputes or deciding how to split cleaning chores.

Frequently asked questions