It is possible to decrease your monthly living expenses if you have a roommate.All adults living in a rental unit have to be listed on the lease.Your landlord won't get involved in your roommate squabbles and you both remain liable for the entire rent each month.Adding a roommate to your lease means you are entering into a business relationship with that person.Before your roommate moves in, make sure you have a financial agreement with your landlord.
Step 1: Take a look at your current lease.
The procedure for adding new tenants may be included in your lease.The requirements for new tenants may be included in your lease.Make sure your roommate meets the requirements if you see a clause like that.If you don't have that clause in your lease, you can get a good idea of what your landlord requires of new tenants by thinking back to when you applied to rent your unit.There is a limit on the number of people in your unit.If it isn't included in your lease, you should ask your landlord before committing to a roommate.
Step 2: Make an appointment with your landlord.
When you and your roommate can talk to your landlord about your possibilities is a good time.Your landlord may consider you in violation of your lease if you don't meet with them before your roommate moves in.If you're not on good terms with your landlord, you might want to write a letter.Provide a little background information about your prospect and explain to them that you want to add a roommate to your lease.
Step 3: The application needs to be completed.
Your landlord might want to complete the same process with your roommate as he or she did with you.Most landlords have a screening process that includes a credit and income check.Before the two of you go to see the landlord, you should talk to your potential roommate.If your potential roommate's background, income, and credit history compare favorably to your own, he or she will most likely be approved by your landlord.
Step 4: You can find out about additional costs.
If another adult will be moving into your unit, your landlord may want to increase the monthly rent or require an additional deposit.If your landlord is willing to accept separate checks for rent, all of you won't have to worry about being late.It doesn't hurt to ask if a landlord is willing to do this.If your landlord asks for an additional security deposit from you, you should compare it to the amount you paid when you moved in.It can be a lot easier to move out if they both are equal.If your roommate is being asked to pay more, you will have to consider how to divide the money after you leave.Your landlord may ask for more rent if you sign a new lease or if more people living in the apartment means there will be more wear and tear on the property.If your rent goes up, your security deposit may go up even if you already have it at the maximum allowed by your state's law.
Step 5: Decide how to split the rent.
It might be difficult to divide the total amount evenly on the floor plan of your unit.If one of you has a larger bedroom than the other, you might want to split the rent between them.If you divide the rent by the total square footage of the apartment, you can find the difference between the two bedrooms.The total monthly rent and day on which it is due should be included in your rent section.If your landlord only accepts a single payment, you may want to structure the agreement so that, for example, your roommate pays you by the first, and you pay the landlord the total by third.
Step 6: Provisions should be made for utilities and other shared expenses.
When dividing the monthly bills, take into account how you use the living space.If the utilities are in your name, you are legally responsible for the entire amount each month.You may want to make your roommate's portion of the bill before you have to pay the utility company.If you have additional living expenses such as cable and internet, how you divide them may be based on how each of you uses them.It may not make sense for your roommate to pay half of the cable bill since he or she doesn't use it, since you only have a TV in your room.
Step 7: Take a look at the living arrangements.
It is possible to avoid future disagreements by distinguishing which spaces are private and which are shared.If not dealt with properly, mundane chores such as taking out the trash or washing the dishes can turn into major battles.It may seem like a waste of time to discuss these things before you move in, but it can eliminate misunderstandings and confusion about responsibilities.One way to keep things fair is to create a schedule for chores.You should include a provision for special cases or events.If your roommate has a dozen friends over for dinner while you're at work, it probably should be her responsibility to do the dishes, even if it's technically "your night" according to the schedule.If one or both of you are in school, you may want to designate specific hours each night or each week as "quiet hours" during which excessive noise or guests are not allowed.If either of you want a period of time in which you're guaranteed to have the apartment yourself, these times should be scheduled and agreed upon in advance.
Step 8: A guest policy is needed.
You should come to an agreement on when and under what circumstances you can have guests.You probably want to give notice to the other roommate of an overnight guest.No one likes their roommate's latest lover walking in on them eating ice cream in their underwear in the kitchen.For friends or family members visiting, you may want to establish longer notice periods.The longer someone is staying, the more imposing they could potentially be.You might want to set rules for how many days in a row or how long a period of time a particular guest can stay over.Your lease may cover this sort of thing.Many leases state that anyone who stays for more than two weeks must be on the lease.
Step 9: How to handle violations of the agreement.
Having a plan in writing for what to do if a violation occurs can eliminate a serious dispute if something happens in the relationship.If you are allowed to file a lawsuit against the other, you might want to consider mediation.It is possible for the two of you to compromise and preserve your friendship through mediation.The clerk's office of your local courthouse is a good place to find mediation services.Clinics can be found at a nearby law school.Many universities offer mediation services to assist students with roommate issues.
Step 10: Rules should be set for moving out.
You should plan who will clean the parts of the unit that have returned security deposits.Your roommate's responsibility for paying rent and finding a replacement roommate should be spelled out in your agreement.Account for the amount of the total security deposit paid by each roommate, and how the landlord will cover damages.Although it may make sense to divide costs for damages equally in shared living spaces such as the living room or the kitchen, each roommate should be individually responsible for any damages to his or her own bedroom.
Step 11: The agreement needs to be signed.
Your agreement should be written and signed by all of your roommates because oral agreements can be forgotten over time.A simple outline is all you need to create a roommate agreement.Many universities and tenants' rights organizations have sample roommate agreements online that you can use to guide the formation and structure of your agreement.Signing the agreement in front of a public official is a formality.Notaries can be found in banks or private package delivery companies, and will notarize your agreement for a small fee.Each of you should have a copy of the agreement once it's signed.You could give a copy to your landlord.Most provisions of a roommate agreement won't be enforced in a court, but a judge will likely enforce provisions related to money or mutual obligations.
Step 12: Read the lease carefully.
Make sure you understand the responsibilities of your roommate, as well as any added provisions to your lease.Don't allow the landlord to intimidate you or make you rush through the agreement.You have the right to read and understand the lease before you sign it, because your signature makes it legally binding against you.If you and your roommate sign a new lease, you will be responsible for the entire rent.It is clear that you both have the same rights under the lease.
Step 13: Ask your landlord if there are any new provisions.
It is worthwhile to learn your landlord's interpretation of key clauses even if you don't understand them.It's helpful to repeat what the landlord has said if you don't understand it.You can be certain that both you and your landlord are on the same page if he or she agrees that you've heard correctly.It's important that your roommate understands that both of you are individually liable for the entire amount of the rent.
Step 14: You have to pay any amounts due.
If your landlord requires additional deposits, you need to pay them before your roommate can move in.If you and your agreement have made any specific arrangements regarding payment, make sure your landlord knows about it and that you have payment ready on the day that it's due.Under the law, the total deposit is owned by both roommates, regardless of who paid what.If you don't want to split the deposit equally, you should make it known to your landlord in writing, as part of your roommate agreement.
Step 15: The new agreement requires you to sign it.
The lease won't take effect until you, your roommate and your landlord sign it.Make sure you and your new roommate have copies of the lease for your personal records once everyone has signed the agreement.If an issue arises, you may want to keep your copy of the lease in a folder with the roommate agreement.