How to politely ask my roommate to stop having so many guests...

If you don't make enough money, you might not be able to afford the neighborhood you want without a roomie.Even though you signed a lease with one person, you may end up with more than that in the form of an occasional overnight guest.

A roommate isn't a negative thing.It can be positive if you get to significantly lower your cost of living and have a built-in buddy.When you realize all of the different habits that people have, it can be difficult to live with another person.It's worse when girlfriends and boyfriends are involved.

It can feel like you're living with a couple if you have a roommate in a relationship.The extra noise, dishes, and remote-control battles can be very annoying.

There are ways to prevent awkward situations from happening.When a roommate has guests over all the time, they need to follow proper protocol so they don't cause uncomfortable situations and make you feel bad.

There are a few things you can do to make sure you and your roommate have the best living experience possible.

Honesty is the best policy.If you're honest with your roommates, you will be happier.If you find that you can't stand having an unwanted guest at your place, speak up!Since the other parties probably aren't mind-readers, you'll need to say something if you have roommate problems.

Don't force the guest to leave the room.You can find a time when the two of you can bring up the issue.

Start with a line like, "Hey, your boyfriend has been here a few days now and while I like him, the situation is becoming inconvenient for me."If he left soon, I would like it.You should have a mental list of reasons why the guest has caused distress.

Prepare for your roommate to be defensive when you are open to questions.You'll carry no fault if you stay level-headed, non-accusatory and reasonable.Don't be a jerk about it, just be assertive and hold your ground.

There are a lot of overnight guest problems that can be avoided by establishing ground rules.Good for you if you have the foresight to do this.If it becomes a problem, it should be tackled from the back end.When and if it becomes necessary, you have to abide by the rules as well.No one likes a hypocrite.

Don't let the tension build.Establish simple rules in your roommate agreement if you want to practice proper guest decorum.

There is no rule about how often a roommate should have a guest.It depends on how often you're willing to put up with an extra human in your space and what your needs are.You prefer not to have a problem on work nights or school nights.Maybe one weekend and one weeknight is acceptable.Frequency expectations should be established that you're comfortable with.

Guests become a strain on utilities.If you and your roommate split the utilities, it's a good idea to let her know that frequent guests have a negative impact on your finances.You didn't use anything.

Ensure that guests who stay frequently contribute to the fashion.Refer to previous billing cycles that did not include overnight guests and compare them to current invoices to show the impact.

It can be bad to have to share an apartment with someone else, but random house guests can cut into your morning routine, leaving you without hot water and coffee.It's ok once or twice, but when you show up to work late and sleepy, you may reconsider the whole roommate thing.It's a good idea to have an agreement in writing about the use of common areas.

Hopefully, any houseguest has good manners.Let your roomie know that they're responsible for taking care of the mess if they don't.There's no confusion if the time frame is established upfront.

A lot of people don't want someone smoking or using drugs in their home, but that does not mean they will not try.Lay out what is acceptable to you and what isn't.Don't let anyone make you feel bad for laying down the law.

If your rental property has limited parking, you may find yourself fighting over spaces more than you want.When your roommate has unknown guests, that's compounded.Make sure your roommate knows that guests shouldn't take the space of the actual tenants and that they should park in the guest spots.

Loud music, late-night chatter, blaring TVs and the sounds of love can affect your peace.If you want to enjoy the peace and quiet that you're entitled to, you need to lay out the ground rules for excessive noise.When establishing your guidelines, consider the time of day and decibel levels.

Don't be vague about any of these issues.If your roommate doesn't understand what you think is acceptable, you'll get resentful and ask more questions.

The situation could get complicated if you confront your roommate about overnight guests.You should be prepared to deal with some bumps in the road as you get used to the new normal.

Let your roommate know that you didn't sign the lease because you dislike the guest, as long as it's true.Don't let your home life get out of hand.Stand up for yourself and make sure you know what to do with overnight guests.

A writer based out of the Atlanta area, she has penned articles for many sites over the course of her career.She likes to write about fitness, nutrition, travel, healthcare and general lifestyle topics.A graduate of the University of Georgia, she enjoys reading, sewing, eating chocolate and playing sports with her husband, three boys and a beloved border collie.