How To Choose a Roommate
From LawDepot Law Library
Whether you've just moved out of Mom and Dad's house and can't afford to rent on your own, or you're an experienced renter who lives in a high-priced market like New York or Los Angeles, a roommate is often unavoidable. In fact, having someone to split the rent with is a necessity for many people.
The decision to look for a roommate is usually an easy one to make. You can't afford to rent without one, so you decide to find one. However, finding the right person to be your roommate can be a challenge. Here are some tips on finding the right roommate:
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Ask Your Friends
Asking a friend to move in with you is often the easiest option when looking for a roommate. You obviously get along with one another, and you've probably seen the other person's living habits, so you should have a good idea of what you're getting yourself into.
Be careful, though. Just because you get along well during your twice weekly visits to the coffee shop doesn't mean you'll get along well if you live together. You've probably heard at least one horror story about roommates who were best friends when they moved in together, but who no longer speak to one another after having lived together.
Even though you're friends, it's still a good idea to interview your potential roommate to make sure that you both have similar expectations about chores, house-guests, and paying the rent.
Ask Your Siblings
Do you have a brother or sister who is also looking for a roommate? If friends aren't available, living with a sibling may be the next best thing. You grew up together, and you've likely lived together in the past, so chances are you'll know what to expect from one another. Just don't let the sibling rivalry get out of hand. Remember, Mom and Dad aren't around to moderate your arguments anymore.
Put an Ad Online or in the Newspaper
If you're new in town and don't know anyone yet, or if you just can't find anyone else, running an ad online or in the local newspaper may be your only option.
The good thing about running an ad is that you can specify exactly what type of roommate you're looking for. If you're a non-smoker and you prefer to avoid second-hand smoke, you can mention in your ad that you're looking for non-smokers only.
By running an advertisement, you've already pre-screened your applicants. If you've specified certain traits that you're looking for in a roommate, most of the people who contact you will be people who have those attributes. If you mention that you have a cat, for example, it's unlikely that someone who is allergic or who hates animals will call asking to be your roommate. This will make the interview process a little bit easier.
Whether you choose to run your ad online, in the paper, or both, is completely up to you. A few years ago, the newspaper may have been your best bet, since it would more locally focused. These days, however, there are many websites, like Craigslist and Roommates.com, that let you look for roommates specifically in your area.
The advantage of using online classifieds is that, unlike the newspaper, it is usually free to place an ad, and your ad will likely be seen by a greater number of people.
Interview Your Potential Roommate
After you've figured out how you're going to find potential roommates, you've got to make sure that you choose the right person. To do that, you'll need to interview anyone who wants to be your roommate--that includes friends and family.
When you're interviewing a potential roommate, you should look for a few key things. First of all, do you get along with this person? If you're starting to dislike the person even before the interview is over, its probably best to look for someone else.
Keep in mind, though, that you aren't looking for a new friend. You're simply looking for someone with whom you get along well enough to avoid substantial conflict. If you become friends (or if you already are), that's great, but don't rule someone out as a roommate just because you don't think you'll be visiting the same pub after work.
Beyond the issue of compatibility, you'll need to talk about what responsibilities each of you will have in the household. Who will do what chores? What percentage of the rent will each person be responsible for? Splitting it evenly will be most common but, for example, you might decide that one person will pay a larger portion of the rent, but may not have to do as many household chores. Make sure that you decided these issues in advance to avoid conflict once you've already moved in together.
Another issue that you'll need to discuss is that of house-guests. It's probably unreasonable to assume that your roommate won't be allowed to have guests over, but you will need to agree on whether or not guests will be allowed to stay overnight and, if not, what time they should leave by.
You'll also have to decide if guests will be allowed over during the week, or only on weekends. These might seem like trivial questions, but you'll be wishing you'd asked them when your roommate and his friends keep you awake until 3 a.m. on a work night.
Complete the Necessary Paperwork
After you've completed your interview and found the right roommate, you should formalize your Roommate Agreement in writing. An easy-to-use roommate agreement form can be found on LawDepot.com, and will allow you to clearly outline the responsibilities and issues agreed upon during your interviews. By getting the agreement in writing, you lessen the chance of conflict and, more importantly, protect yourself in the event that you do have a disagreement with your roommate.
In addition to having a written roommate agreement, you should also make sure that your roommate's name is on the lease. In addition to being a legal requirement in most jurisdictions (anyone who is not listed on the lease can usually not stay longer than 30 days, as they are considered a guest, and not a tenant), it will mean that your roommate is as responsible for your shared living situation as you are.
