Free Roommate Agreement Template 2025 (Printable PDF)
Free Customizable Template
Complete agreement included below - just fill in your details
A roommate agreement is the single most important document you'll create when living with others. It prevents conflicts, sets clear expectations, and protects everyone legally and financially. This comprehensive guide includes a free, customizable template covering everything from rent division to house rules.
⚖️ Legal Note:
While this template is comprehensive, it's not a substitute for legal advice. For significant financial arrangements or complex situations, consult a local attorney familiar with tenant law in your area.
Why You Need a Roommate Agreement
Even with your best friends, verbal agreements aren't enough. Here's why a written agreement is essential:
✓ Prevents Misunderstandings
Clear documentation means everyone knows exactly what was agreed upon. No more "I thought you said..." arguments.
✓ Legal Protection
A written agreement can be legally binding and helps resolve disputes if they escalate to mediation or court.
✓ Sets Boundaries Early
Discussing difficult topics upfront (money, guests, cleanliness) is easier than addressing problems later.
✓ Protects Finances
Document who paid what for security deposits, furniture, and shared items. Critical when someone moves out.
What Should a Roommate Agreement Cover?
A comprehensive agreement addresses finances, responsibilities, and house rules. Here's what to include:
1. Financial Arrangements
Rent & Security Deposit:
- Total monthly rent: $______
- Each roommate's share: Specify exact amounts (see our guide on how to split rent fairly)
- Due date: Rent due on the ____ of each month
- Payment method: How and to whom rent is paid
- Late payment policy: Grace period and consequences
- Security deposit: Each person's contribution amount
Utilities & Bills:
- Included utilities: List what's split (electric, gas, water, internet, etc.)
- Split method: Equal division or based on usage/room size
- Payment responsibility: Who pays the service provider directly
- Reimbursement timeline: When roommates pay their share to the bill payer
💡 Pro tip: Use RoommatePortal to automatically track who's paid rent and utilities each month.
Shared Expenses:
- Household supplies: Toilet paper, cleaning products, trash bags, etc.
- Groceries: Specify if shared or separate
- Monthly household fund: Amount each person contributes
- Major purchases: Process for buying shared furniture or appliances
2. House Rules & Responsibilities
Cleaning & Maintenance:
- Cleaning schedule: Who cleans what and how often
- Common area standards: Expected cleanliness level
- Dish policy: How quickly dirty dishes must be cleaned
- Trash/recycling: Who takes it out and when
Guests & Visitors:
- Overnight guests: How many nights per month/week allowed
- Advance notice: How much warning before guests stay over
- Guest responsibilities: Guests must respect house rules
- Significant others: Policy if someone's partner stays frequently
Quiet Hours & Lifestyle:
- Quiet hours: Specify times (e.g., 10 PM - 8 AM on weekdays)
- Party/gathering policy: How much notice required, frequency limits
- Smoking/vaping: Allowed locations (if any)
- Pets: Types allowed, responsibilities, deposits
3. Move-In & Move-Out Terms
- Lease term: Start and end dates
- Notice period: How much notice required to move out (typically 30-60 days)
- Finding replacement: Who's responsible if someone leaves early
- Security deposit return: How outgoing roommate gets their portion back
- Shared item ownership: What happens to jointly purchased furniture
- Move-out cleaning: Condition room must be left in
Free Roommate Agreement Template
Here's a comprehensive template you can customize for your situation. Fill in the brackets [like this] with your specific information.
ROOMMATE AGREEMENT
Effective Date: [Month Day, Year]
1. PARTIES TO AGREEMENT
This Roommate Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into by:
- • [Roommate 1 Full Name], herein referred to as "Roommate 1"
- • [Roommate 2 Full Name], herein referred to as "Roommate 2"
- • [Roommate 3 Full Name], herein referred to as "Roommate 3"
Collectively referred to as "Roommates."
2. PROPERTY
The Roommates agree to share the residential property located at:
[Street Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
Herein referred to as "the Premises."
3. TERM OF AGREEMENT
This Agreement shall be effective from [Start Date] through [End Date].
This Agreement may be renewed or extended by written consent of all Roommates.
4. RENT & FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS
4.1 Total Monthly Rent: $[Amount]
4.2 Individual Rent Portions:
- • Roommate 1: $[Amount]
- • Roommate 2: $[Amount]
- • Roommate 3: $[Amount]
4.3 Due Date: Rent is due on the [Day] of each month.
4.4 Payment Method: [How rent will be paid - e.g., "Each roommate shall pay their portion directly to the landlord via check" or "Roommate 1 will collect rent and pay landlord"]
4.5 Late Payment: Rent payments more than [Number] days late shall incur [consequence - e.g., "a $25 late fee"].
5. SECURITY DEPOSIT
5.1 Total Security Deposit: $[Amount]
5.2 Individual Contributions:
- • Roommate 1: $[Amount]
- • Roommate 2: $[Amount]
- • Roommate 3: $[Amount]
5.3 Return of Deposit: Upon move-out, each roommate's portion shall be returned according to the master lease terms, minus any deductions for damages attributable to that roommate.
6. UTILITIES & BILLS
6.1 Shared Utilities: The following utilities shall be split equally among all Roommates:
- • Electricity
- • Gas/Heat
- • Water/Sewer
- • Internet ($[Amount]/month total)
- • [Other utilities]
6.2 Bill Payment: [Specify who pays which bills and reimbursement process]
7. SHARED HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES
7.1 Household Fund: Each roommate shall contribute $[Amount] monthly to a household fund for shared supplies (toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies, trash bags, etc.).
7.2 Groceries: [Specify if shared or separate - e.g., "Each roommate is responsible for their own groceries"]
8. CLEANING & MAINTENANCE
8.1 Common Areas: All roommates agree to maintain common areas (kitchen, bathrooms, living room) in a clean and sanitary condition.
8.2 Cleaning Schedule: [Specify rotation or responsibilities]
8.3 Dishes: Dirty dishes must be cleaned within [Number] hours of use.
8.4 Trash: [Specify trash/recycling schedule and responsibilities]
9. GUESTS & VISITORS
9.1 Overnight Guests: Overnight guests are permitted [Number] nights per [week/month] with [Number] hours advance notice to other roommates.
9.2 Extended Stays: Guests staying more than [Number] consecutive nights require approval from all roommates.
10. QUIET HOURS
Quiet hours shall be observed from [Start Time] to [End Time] on [Days]. During quiet hours, noise should be kept to a reasonable level that does not disturb other roommates.
11. SMOKING & SUBSTANCES
[Specify policy - e.g., "Smoking is prohibited inside the Premises" or "Smoking is allowed only on the balcony/patio"]
12. PETS
[Specify policy - e.g., "No pets allowed" or "Roommate 2 may keep their cat with $200 pet deposit paid solely by Roommate 2"]
13. MOVING OUT
13.1 Notice Period: Any roommate wishing to move out must provide [Number] days written notice to all other roommates.
13.2 Finding Replacement: [Specify who is responsible for finding a replacement roommate]
13.3 Cleaning: Upon moving out, the departing roommate must clean their room and remove all personal belongings.
14. CONFLICT RESOLUTION
In the event of a dispute, roommates agree to first attempt to resolve the matter through respectful discussion. If resolution cannot be reached, roommates may seek mediation before pursuing other remedies.
15. MODIFICATIONS
This Agreement may only be modified by written consent of all roommates.
SIGNATURES
By signing below, all parties acknowledge that they have read, understand, and agree to the terms of this Roommate Agreement.
_________________________________
[Roommate 1 Name]
Date: ___________
_________________________________
[Roommate 2 Name]
Date: ___________
_________________________________
[Roommate 3 Name]
Date: ___________
📥 How to Use This Template:
- Copy the template above into a document editor (Word, Google Docs, etc.)
- Replace all bracketed items [like this] with your specific information
- Add or remove sections based on your needs
- Have all roommates review and discuss each section
- Print and have everyone sign
- Give each roommate a copy and keep one with important documents
Tips for Creating Your Agreement
✓ Have the Conversation Early
Don't wait until after move-in. Discuss and sign the agreement before anyone moves in, while everyone is excited and optimistic.
✓ Be Specific
Vague terms like "keep it clean" or "reasonable noise" lead to disagreements. Use specific numbers, times, and measurable standards.
✓ Discuss the Uncomfortable Topics
Money, cleanliness, and guests are the top sources of roommate conflicts (read our guide on avoiding roommate money conflicts). Address them directly in your agreement.
✓ Update as Needed
Living situations change. Review your agreement every 6 months and update it with everyone's consent if circumstances change.
✓ Keep It Accessible
Store your signed agreement somewhere all roommates can access it. Consider keeping a digital copy in shared cloud storage or on RoommatePortal's document storage.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ What NOT to Do:
- ⚠️Verbal-only agreements: "We'll just work it out" never works out
- ⚠️Assuming everyone has the same standards: Your "clean" might be someone else's "disaster"
- ⚠️Avoiding money talk: Awkward now beats furious later
- ⚠️Not addressing guests: This becomes a major issue fast
- ⚠️Forgetting to sign and date: Unsigned agreements have limited legal weight
- ⚠️Losing your copy: Keep it with other important documents
Digital Tools for Enforcement
A signed agreement is great, but enforcing it requires tools to track compliance. This is where technology helps:
Recommended Tools:
Document Storage
Store your signed agreement digitally where all roommates can access it. RoommatePortal includes secure document storage for leases and agreements.
Payment Tracking
Visual dashboards showing who's paid rent and utilities make enforcement automatic. Check out our guide on managing roommate finances.
Shared Calendar
Track cleaning schedules, bill due dates, and guest reservations in one place.
Final Thoughts
A well-written roommate agreement is your insurance policy against conflicts, misunderstandings, and financial disputes. Yes, it takes time to create one. Yes, it requires uncomfortable conversations. But spending a few hours upfront can save you months of stress and potentially thousands of dollars.
The template above covers the essentials, but feel free to customize it for your specific situation. Maybe you need sections on parking spaces, thermostat settings, or specific kitchen rules. Add whatever makes sense for your household.
Remember: the goal isn't to create a legal document that covers every possible scenario. It's to establish clear expectations and demonstrate that everyone is committed to being a considerate, responsible roommate. When you get that right, the details take care of themselves.
Related Resources
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