Roommate Agreement Template
Money and chores are where roommates fall out. Put the rent split, deposits, utilities, and house rules in writing — fill it in and download a print-ready PDF. Free, no signup.
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Roommate Agreement
Dated __________. This agreement is between __________ and __________ ("Roommates"), who share the residence at __________ ("Home"), starting __________, on the following term: __________ .
Rent. The total monthly rent for the Home is $__________ USD, divided as follows: __________ . Each Roommate is responsible for paying their share on time; if one share is missed, the Roommates remain jointly responsible to the landlord under the lease.
Security deposit. __________ . Each Roommate's share is returned subject to deductions attributable to that Roommate under the lease.
Utilities and shared costs. __________ . Receipts are kept and settled monthly.
Moving out. A Roommate who wishes to move out shall give __________ to the other Roommate(s), and remains responsible for their share of rent and costs until the notice period ends or a replacement acceptable to the remaining Roommate(s) — and to the landlord, where the lease requires — takes over.
Lease controls. This agreement is between the Roommates only. It does not bind the landlord and does not modify the lease for the Home; where this agreement conflicts with the lease, the lease controls. This agreement is governed by the laws of the State of __________ .
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Why put it in writing
Most roommate disputes are about the same three things: rent, bills, and someone leaving early. A one-page agreement settles all three before they happen. It will not change your lease — it organizes what happensbetween roommates, which is exactly the part the lease does not cover.
What to include
- Who lives in the home, from when, and for how long
- The total rent and each person's share, with the due date
- Deposit shares and how they come back
- How utilities and shared costs are split
- Notice to move out, and what the leaving roommate still owes
- Both signatures — each keeps a copy
Renting the whole place rather than sharing? You may want the state-specific lease agreement instead.
Frequently asked questions
Is a roommate agreement legally binding?
Yes — between the roommates. A signed roommate agreement is a private contract: courts generally enforce clear terms about money (rent share, deposits, bills) between the people who signed it. It does not bind your landlord, and it never overrides the lease.
How is this different from a lease?
The lease is between the tenant(s) and the landlord and controls the apartment itself. A roommate agreement is between the people sharing the home and controls how they split rent, chores, and costs among themselves. If they conflict, the lease wins — check ours against yours.
Does the landlord sign a roommate agreement?
No. The landlord is not a party to it and is not bound by it. If you want a roommate added to the lease itself (so they are directly responsible to the landlord), ask the landlord about co-signing or a lease amendment.
What happens if a roommate leaves early?
Whatever your agreement says — that is exactly why the notice clause matters. A common approach: written notice (30 days), the leaving roommate stays responsible for their rent share until a replacement acceptable to the remaining roommates (and the landlord, per the lease) takes over.
Do we need to notarize it?
No — signatures of the roommates are enough for a private contract like this. Each person should keep a copy. Notarizing does not hurt, but it is not the norm for roommate agreements.