Room Agreement

Sharing a home works better when the boring stuff is written down

Most roommate friction isn’t about big betrayals. It’s about the small, unspoken things: who bought the dish soap, whose turn it is to take out the trash, whether a partner who stays over four nights a week is now a fifth roommate. A short, plainly written agreement settles those questions before they turn into resentment — while everyone still likes each other.

Room Agreement is a practical guide to setting up shared living the fair way. We cover what actually belongs in a roommate agreement, sensible ways to split rent and bills when incomes and bedrooms differ, how to handle the security deposit so nobody gets burned at move-out, and how to talk through guests, quiet hours, and someone leaving early without it turning into a fight.

What you’ll find here

• Templates and checklists you can adapt to your own household — not legalese.
• Fair-by-default methods for money: rent splits, shared-expense tracking, and deposits.
• Scripts for the awkward conversations — the roommate who’s always late on rent, the guest who never leaves, the early move-out.

We write for renters, roommates, and live-in landlords who’d rather prevent a problem than argue about it later. Everything here is general information to help you have a clearer conversation — not legal advice. Your lease and your local laws always come first; when money or eviction is on the line, check both and, if needed, talk to a qualified professional.

Ready to set yours up? Start with the blog →