Roommate Agreement Template

A Roommate Agreement is a written understanding between people who share a rented home about how they will split costs and live together. It records each roommate's name, the property, how the rent and deposit are divided, who pays which utilities, and the chores and house rules everyone agrees to follow. It does not replace the lease with the landlord — it sits alongside it — but it settles the day-to-day questions that cause the most friction between roommates, and each person signs and dates so the arrangement is clear from the start.

Whether a roommate agreement is legally enforceable varies by place, and it never overrides the lease you signed with the landlord. This template is a general-purpose layout, not legal advice. Check your lease and your state and city rules — especially around deposits and liability — before you rely on it, and keep the landlord's lease as the controlling document.

How roommates use this form

Three friends renting a house together use it to write down that rent is split evenly, that each pays a third of the deposit, and that utilities are divided the same way. Roommates with different incomes agree to an uneven split and record it so no one forgets what was decided. A group sharing chores lists who handles cleaning, trash, and shared groceries on a rotating schedule. When someone moves out, the signed agreement makes it clear what they paid in and what they are owed back.

Customize the terms before signing

Open the Word (DOCX) download to add each roommate's name, set the rent and deposit split — evenly or by share — and list the utilities and who covers each. Edit the chores and house-rules section to fit your household, add quiet hours or guest policies, and note how the deposit will be returned. The fillable PDF is ideal when the terms are settled and each roommate just needs to complete the blanks and sign — keep a signature line for every roommate so everyone is on record.

Common mistakes to avoid

Do not leave the rent and deposit split vague — unclear money terms cause the most roommate disputes. Do not assume the agreement overrides the lease; the landlord's lease still controls rent and liability. Do not skip the move-out and deposit-return terms, which matter most when someone leaves. And do not forget that every roommate should sign and date, since the understanding only holds for the people who put their name to it.

Example scenario

Three roommates share a $2,400 apartment and agree that each pays $800 and one third of the deposit. Utilities are split evenly, and chores rotate weekly. When one roommate gives notice to move out, the agreement shows exactly what they contributed to the deposit, so the group can settle up fairly and find a replacement without arguing over who owes what.

Choosing PDF or Word

This page provides a printable fillable PDF and an editable Word (DOCX) file. Use the Word file when you need to adjust the splits, utilities, or house rules before printing, and the PDF when the terms are set and each roommate just needs to fill and sign. Both include a dated signature line for every roommate so the whole household is on record.