Renting With Roommates – Part III

Learning about the legal rights and responsibilities of roommates helps to make sharing an apartment or home, a whole lot easier. Choosing roommates with care is important, and they should not be selected, simply because you have a good time partying together. An enjoyable party mate may not necessarily translate into a considerate roommate; one enjoys sharing a place with. Before, zeroing in on one, consider the following:

1. A potential roommate’s personality.
2. His / her lifestyle and health habits.
3. What his / her budget looks like.
4. The kind of friends he / she hangs out with.
5. Whether, your roommate comes with pets, and if so, what sort?

Once, the selection of roommates is over, it is a good idea to draw up an agreement and put everything in writing. Your written agreement should consider and include the following issues:

1. How the rent, utilities and security deposits will be split and paid.
2. Any house rules relating to pets and pet security deposits.
3. Draw out the smoking or non-smoking zones in the shared accommodation.
4. All roommates should be unanimous regarding partying hours or drug use, i.e. whether, allowed or not allowed.
5. Late hours and noise levels.
6. Whether, overnight guests are allowed, and if so, how often.
7. If, food and cooking duties are to be shared.
8. Cleaning schedules and how household chores are to be shared.

While, it is not possible for anyone to force a roommate to do his / her share of the dish-washing ceremonies, or to be as silent as a mouse, when other roommates are sleeping, however, the judge of a small claims court can enforce agreements, as to how rent and utilities are paid.

If, there are going to be any roommates, then each one should sign the rental agreement, which makes each responsible for paying the entire rent, every month.

In case, a lease has already been signed and you have moved in, it will be necessary to get the landlord’s approval for adding another roommate, and most likely Mr. Landlord will want to check your potential roommate’s credit history, and additional security deposit, including pet deposit, if your roomie comes with one.

Perhaps, you might see an increase in rent, because of the extra person, and your landlord may require you to sign an entirely new lease for adding a new roommate.

Before, taking on a roommate, it is best to remember, if your roommate doesn’t pay the rent, or damages the place, or makes too much noise, the landlord is legally within his rights to hold everyone responsible. In case, your roommate doesn’t pay rent on time, the best idea is to encourage him / her roommate to move out.