This
agreeement is provided for the mutual benefit of roommates.
The University assumes no responsibility.
This
agreement made on ______________ is a contract between ______________________________________,
________________________________, and ____________________________________________________, co-tenants
at ____________________(address). We hope to make certain that all responsibilities
of renting will be shared equally by all roommates. It is for this reason
that we are signing this agreement. We understand that we are entering
into a legally binding agreement with one another. We also understand
that we as a group and I as an individual are responsible to our landlord,
the utility companies, and each other.
Term
or Period of Agreement
This agreement shall remain in effect from ____________________ to __________________________________. Under a month-to-month tenancy, each roommate must give the other roommates thirty (30) days ___ written or ___ oral notice in advance, if for any reason the roommate will be moving out before the date shown above. The roommate may leave and be free of any further financial obligations for the thirty-day notice period, if a substitute roommate is found and is acceptable by the remaining roommate and the owner. Under a lease agreement, the departing roommate will be responsible until a replacement is found. The roommate who is leaving may still be obligated to the landlord by the terms of the signed lease. The landlord should be notified of any pending roommate switch, so that proper arrangements can be made for legal vacating of property.
Deposit
The
roommates have paid a security deposit of ________. (List amount each roommate
has paid.) ______________________________________________________________ Each
roommate will receive his/her portion from the landlord at the end of the
tenancy or when the new roommate moves in and pays a deposit to replace
the departing roommate's portion of the security deposit. Each roommate
is responsible for charges associated with the damages he/she or his/her
guests cause.
Rent
The
total rent according to the terms of our lease agreement with our landlord
for the dwelling is $_____. Each roommate shall pay the following amount
of rent:____________________________________________.
(Amounts may not be equal; list all rental rates.) If one room is larger
than the other: a) occupant of the larger room will pay higher rent according
to the square footage of bedroom; b) roommate will switch rooms at end of
semester and pay equal rent; or c) occupant of larger room pay equal rent
with the consent of all roommates. The rent shall be paid on the ______________ day of each month. We understand that we as a group and I as an individual are responsible to our landlord for the total rent for the term of the agreement.
Utilities
The
following services have been arranged and paid for as follows:
Account
in Name Of
Amount
of Deposit
Deposit
Paid By
How Shared
Roommate
Responsible
for Payment
Gas
Water
Electricity
Telephone
Garbage
Newspaper
Cable TV
Other
Each roommate has been assigned the responsibility for payment of a specific
bill. This includes determining the amount owed by each roommate, collecting
that amount, and seeing that payment is made before the due date.
or
The attached schedule has been developed to assign each roommate the month
in which he/she will be responsible for the collecting and payment of
all bills.
Household Supplies
A ledger will be kept of all supplies purchased by each roommate. The
supplies include such things as paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning fluids,
dish detergent, foil, plastic trash bags, scrub brushes, and any other
goods needed for the dwelling that will be shared by all roommates. The
purchases made by each roommate should be totaled and divided evenly to
reimburse those who have purchased a higher number of goods, so that the
financial responsibility is shared by all tenants.
Kitchen Use and Clean-Up
Food expenses shall be shared evenly by all roommates. Preparation of
meals shall be determined by an attached schedule which can be flexible.
or
Food is to be bought by each roommate. There is to be no borrowing of
food without prior approval. A separate space will be designated for each
person's groceries.
Each roommate agrees to do his/her own dishes and empty the trash as needed.
A schedule of kitchen clean which should include cleaning
the refrigerator, oven, and mopping the floors may be attached.
Pets
If pets are permitted under the lease, each pet owner shall be responsible
for all damages caused by his/her pet. This includes damage to furniture,
carpeting, doors, lawn, and garden.
OPTIONAL AREAS OF
AGREEMENT (COMMON
PROBLEM AREAS)
Personal Property
All roommates agree to refrain from borrowing roommate's personal
goods, without prior approval. Exceptions to this should be clearly stated,
with the roommates reserving the right to change their minds about the
sharing of their items. If damage is done to personal property, the roommate
responsible for the damage will be held liable.
Cleaning and Yard
Work
All roommates agree to share the responsibilities of cleaning and maintenance
of the premises. This includes dusting, vacuuming, emptying trash, mopping
and waxing floors, cleaning bathrooms, and yard work.
The roommates have decided to develop a schedule that is attached, telling
when each roommate will complete the above jobs.
or
The roommates will each work together one day a week to complete the above
jobs.
Additional Terms of
Agreement
In addition to the items mentioned above, the following items have been
known to cause conflict between roommates. If you foresee any of these
as a problem, write out any needed additional agreements and attach.
Use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs
Keys
Clean up after parties
Parking
Quiet hours for studying and sleeping
Behavior of guests
Overnight guests for extended periods of time
Compliance with rules
Use of stereo and records of condominium/apartment
SIGNATURES OF ROOMMATES:
Substantially reprinted
from Aztec Housing Guide 1986. Housing and Residential Life Office, San
Diego State University, San Diego, CA.
