Roommate Agreement Template

Most roommate problems do not come from bad people. They come from unspoken assumptions: one person thinks guests are fine at any time, another thinks they need notice. One expects dishes to be done daily, another weekly. A roommate agreement is a simple way to bring these assumptions into the open, before they cause arguments. It does not guarantee harmony, but it gives you a shared reference and a way to start difficult conversations calmly.

This template is general. Adapt it to your situation and your housing rules. It is not a legal document, and your lease and college rules take priority.

How to use it

1. Choose a good time. Sit down together, early, without distractions.
2. Go through each section, and discuss what each person wants.
3. Write down what you agree, in plain words.
4. Be specific. "Quiet after 11 pm on weeknights" is clearer than "keep it down."
5. Compromise. Neither of you will get everything.
6. Sign or initial it, and keep a copy each.
7. Review it after a few weeks, and whenever something changes.

If your residence provides a form, use it alongside this template.

The template

Copy the text below into a document, and fill in your own details.

Roommate Agreement

Names: ______________ and ______________

Room or address: ______________

Date: ______________

1. Sleep and quiet hours

• Quiet hours on weekdays: from ____ to ____
• Quiet hours on weekends: from ____ to ____
• Lights out for sleeping: ____ (on weeknights) and ____ (weekends)
• Alarm clocks: we will use ______________ (for example, phone on vibrate, headphones)
• During exams, we will: ______________
• Music, video and calls: we will use headphones after ____ or take calls in ______________

2. Cleaning and chores

• We will keep our own areas: ______________
• Shared areas, such as the bathroom, kitchen and floor, will be cleaned by: ______________
• Chore schedule: ______________
• Trash and recycling will be taken out by: ______________
• Dishes will be washed within: ______________
• Laundry: we will each do our own, and avoid leaving it in shared spaces.
• If someone feels the standard is not being met, we will: ______________

3. Guests and visitors

• Guests in the room are welcome when: ______________
• We will give notice by: ______________
• Overnight guests: ______________ nights per week or month, with notice of ______________
• Guests must follow the residence rules and respect quiet hours.
• We will not leave guests in the room alone without permission.
• Partners: ______________

4. Shared items and food

• Items we will share: ______________
• Items we will not share: ______________
• Food: we will keep separate or share ______________
• We will ask before borrowing anything, including clothes and electronics.
• If something is broken, we will tell the other person and discuss how to fix or replace it.
• Shared purchases, such as cleaning supplies and a fridge, will be paid for by: ______________

5. Rent and bills

• Rent is shared: ______________
• Utilities and internet are shared: ______________
• Payments are made by: ______________ (date) to: ______________
• We will record payments in: ______________
• If someone cannot pay on time, they will tell the other as early as possible.
• If someone moves out, we will: ______________

6. Privacy and personal space

• Each person's side of the room and belongings are private.
• We will knock before entering a bedroom, if there are separate rooms.
• We will respect study and sleep times.
• We will not share personal information about each other with others without permission.
• Time alone: we will let each other know when we need it.

7. Temperature, windows and lighting

• Heating and cooling: ______________
• Windows: ______________
• Lighting at night: ______________

8. Safety

• We will lock the door when we leave and when we sleep.
• We will not share keys or access cards without permission.
• We will tell each other if we will not be home overnight.
• In case of emergency, we will contact: ______________

9. Communication

• If something bothers us, we will talk about it within ______________ days, calmly and in private.
• We will use "I" statements, and avoid blame.
• We will not discuss our problems on social media or with others before talking to each other.
• If we cannot solve a problem, we will ask: ______________ (such as a resident advisor).
• We will check in with each other every ______________ weeks.

10. Review and changes

• We will review this agreement on: ______________
• Changes will be made in writing, with both of our agreement.

Signed: ______________ ______________

Sample wording for tricky topics

Different sleep schedules. "On weeknights, the lights go out at 11:30 pm. If one of us needs to study later, we will use the library or a desk lamp with headphones."

Guests. "We will give each other at least a day's notice for overnight guests, and no more than two nights a week."

Dishes. "Dishes are washed by the person who used them, within 24 hours."

Borrowing. "We will ask before using the other's belongings. Food in the fridge is separate unless labeled as shared."

Noise. "Music and videos will be played through headphones after 10 pm. Calls will be taken in the hallway or common area after 11 pm."

Money. "Rent is paid by the first of the month. Bills are split equally and paid by whoever holds the account, with the other transferring their share within three days of the bill."

Adapt these to your own preferences.

How to hold the conversation

• Choose a neutral place and time.
• Start positive. "I would like us to get along well. Can we talk about how we want to live together?"
• Ask questions first. "What is your usual sleep schedule?" "How do you feel about guests?"
• Share your own needs clearly.
• Listen, and avoid interrupting.
• Look for compromise.
• Write it down together.

If one of you is shy, offer to start, or use the template as a prompt.

What an agreement cannot do

An agreement helps, but it has limits.

• It does not replace the lease or housing rules.
• It may not be enforceable in a legal sense.
• It does not solve every conflict, since people change and situations arise.
• It does not replace conversation. It is a starting point.
• It cannot cover safety or serious problems, which should be reported to staff.

Our guides to roommate conflicts and living with a roommate for the first time offer advice for when things get difficult.

Reviewing and updating

Review the agreement after a few weeks, when you know each other better. Ask:

1. What is working well?
2. What is not working?
3. What has changed, such as schedules or guests?
4. What should we add or remove?

Update it together, and keep a copy.

For housemates in a larger house

If you share a house with more than two people, adapt the template:

• Add a shared calendar for chores and guests.
• Agree on how to make group decisions, such as by vote.
• Set up a shared bills account or a payment app.
• Hold regular house meetings.
• Agree on rules for common areas, such as the living room and kitchen.
• Decide how to handle someone leaving, and how to find a replacement.

Larger households need clearer systems, since more people mean more room for misunderstanding.

A worked example

Imagine two roommates who are very different: one is an early riser, and the other a night owl. They sit down on the first weekend with the template. They agree on lights out at midnight on weeknights, headphones for evening music and a chore schedule that alternates weekly. They agree that guests need a day's notice. They sign, and check in after a month. When the night owl's friends stay later than expected one night, the agreement gives them a calm starting point for a conversation.

The agreement did not remove the differences, but it made them easier to manage.

Common mistakes

• Waiting until there is a problem.
• Being vague.
• Not writing it down.
• Not reviewing it.
• Using it as a weapon.
• Ignoring safety and legal issues.
• Treating it as a replacement for talking.

A quick checklist

• Have we discussed every section?
• Have we written down specific agreements?
• Have we both signed and kept a copy?
• Have we set a date to review?
• Do we know where to get help if we cannot agree?

Final thoughts

A roommate agreement is a simple tool that helps you set expectations and avoid misunderstandings. Use the template, talk honestly and review it regularly. A little effort at the start can make shared living much easier.