Roommate Agreements Address Pay Rent Chores Share Food

"Taking on" (agreeing to have or do something) a roommate can present a big "liability" (something that can create financial obligations or other problems in the future), especially if the roommate does not pay the rent "on time" (when something is due). In the past, roommates had verbal agreements "governing" (covering) how they would pay the rent and "divvy up" (share and divide) chores, but now written "roommate agreements" are becoming "increasingly" (more and more) common.

Roommate agreements always "address" (deal with) the payment of rent, "specifying" (stating specifically) the amount and timing of payments, as well as "penalties" (punishments) for not paying on time. The agreements usually also address the use of "space" (rooms), indicating which bedroom(s) belong to each roommate and how common areas will be shared.

Many roommate agreements also try to "establish" (create) rules for daily living. They might specify which roommates are responsible for which chores, and how often they must be completed, as well as penalties for failing to perform those chores. And many agreements address whether and how the roommates will share the cost of buying food and preparing meals. Some roommates choose to keep everything separate. Others share only "staples" (common food items, like flour and oil), and others "alternate" (take turns) shopping and cooking "duties" (responsibilities; tasks).

Sometimes roommate agreements address "behavioral issues" (how people behave or act), such as appropriate "noise levels" (how much noise people make) and when music can be played. And sometimes agreements address whether and how often the roommates can have "guests" (people who are invited into the home for a short period of time), or have a boyfriend or girlfriend spend the night in the apartment or home.