LivingWith Roommates in Your Rental T
he 32 percent of Americanswhorent—wheth- er they are young, old, married or single—are probably going to be looking for a roommate,
according to the 2007 National Multi-Housing Council tabulations in the Annual Social and Eco- nomic Supplement from the U.S. Census Bureau. Ready to Rent is here to help those people who
are searching for a roommate look at the good, bad and the day-to-day drudgery of living with someone else. If you’re unaware of some of the dos, don’ts and absolute no-nos of sharing your space, read on. The most important thing to remember when
you sign a lease with another person is that you are jointly liable for the rent. Period. If your roommate abandons the place, unless you follow the letter of the law, you’re stuck with the bill. And it’s doubtful your landlord will let you wash his dishes to stay another month! What is unfortunate is that peo- ple often enter a legally binding situation like this without having the basic points nailed down. Even if you and your roommate are best friends
(sometimes especially so), it is a good idea to have a written contract—either a roommate agreement or a sublease agreement—depending on your situ- ation. It can be provided to you by your landlord.
Consider the following questions before signing a lease with a roommate:
• How long will each roommate stay in the apartment?
• How will you divide the rent?
• What are the basic house rules concerning guests/smoking/drinking/cleaning/groceries?
It’s in his or her best interest to see that all parties involved understand their legal obligations. Unexpected problems can occur—an argu-
ment, job change, whatever—so a prior agreement sets obligations and rights of the roommates (it’s kind of like a pre-nup if you think about it!). Al- though these types of agreements can be either oral or written, both are equally enforceable under the law—but obviously in written agreements con- sequences are more clear.
• What happens if a roommate wants to leave early?Who pays the rent? How do you find a replacement?
• Who gets the bigger room (and does that entail a larger share of the rent?)?
• Whose name will be on the utility bills?
13
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Apartments.com and did not involve the editorial department of this newspaper.
This editorial was contributed by
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