By ,
Published January 31, 2017
Moving in with new roommates is a momentous occasion -- or the beginning of a waking nightmare unfolding every time you set foot in your home and clash over dirty dishes in the sink, impromptu parties in your living room, or a thousand other things.
The only way to sidestep roommate drama before it escalates into a full-fledged tragedy is to sit down and create a roommate contract -- a document that fully outlines your dual expectations about rent, utilities, and general conduct toward one another. Can't we all just get along? The answer is yes -- as long as you have some written backup.
Here's how to draw up an agreement that will set you up for a more peaceful home environment.
How to write a roommate contract
Yep, you've signed dozens of contracts in your life, but unless you're a lawyer, it's unlikely you've written one. It's unnecessary to wade knee-deep through legalese. A clearly written statement of expectations can help you and your roommates understand what is required of each of you. Plus, it provides a small amount of legal protection, just in case things go south.
"Any contract is enforceable if it represents a 'meeting of the minds,' or agreement between the parties, and is not illegal in some manner," says John R. O'Brien, an attorney in Chicago. In other words: No judge will be pleased if you drag in your roommate over an argument over whether your loud binge-watching of "Empire" constitutes roomie abuse, but when it comes to joint financial matters, you'll have standing.
Start with the basics
Note the full name of each roommate and the entire address of your apartment or home at the top of the agreement. Also, be sure to note the move-in date, the length of your lease, and the total rent -- otherwise, you risk your contract being legally unenforceable.
Discuss these touchy topics
Setting in stone some parameters in terms of payment and space can go a huge way toward avoiding misunderstandings later. Be sure to hit these topics if they apply:
Discuss the end
Include details in the contract that address what should happen if one roommate decides to leave the apartment before the end of your lease agreement. Guidelines for early termination -- if you and your roommates want to bail simultaneously -- will exist in a lease, but if only one person wants a premature exit, you might find yourself in a pickle. Typically, the party who wants out should be required to find a subletter everyone can agree on before that party can stop paying rent.
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Watch: Is It Smarter to Rent or Buy?
https://www.foxnews.com/real-estate/how-to-write-a-roommate-contract-and-avoid-drama-down-the-road