Many of us are in the situation of being financially unable to rent a home or apartment on our own. We have to room with someone. Otherwise we might have to sleep on our parents or friends couch or even worse, be homeless.

When you have found the right person to room with, and the perfect home or apartment to make it work, you two still would have to pass the prying eyes of the landlord and get past the rental application process. When the application and screening process is completed and both of you have signed the lease agreement with the landlord, have you discussed or considered having a roommate agreement in writing between the two of you?

I can hear it now…what the heck is a agreement? I have never heard of such thing.

When you decide to move in with someone or take in a roommate yourself it is always good to have a written agreement between everyone involved. It should break down everyone’s responsibility, financially and chores. It should spell out what happens when one of the parties is not keeping up on their responsibility. Just like the lease agreement you singed with your landlord only between roommates.

There are many things you can put into the roommate agreement. Things like who feeds the cat or dog, who cleans the kitchen, who take out the trash, things like that. You are establishing the basic house rules between all of you. In many cases when it is not in writing, signed, and dated it is not agreed on.

When you are not financial able to rent a house or an apartment on your own and looking for help or advice contact the Settles Team. We are more than happy to guide you through this kind of situation.