You’ll probably find yourself living with a roommate at some point in your life. Roommates help cut the cost of renting an apartment, and you can also split other cost-of-living expenses, like groceries and internet. Before moving in together, it’s extremely important to create a house rules list for roommates — something that everyone living in the apartment agrees upon. These 12 tips can help you develop roommate guidelines to keep peace in the household.
Essential roommate rules to establish
- Communicate expectations
- Sign a roommate agreement
- Share expenses
- Create bathroom, kitchen, and laundry schedules
- Designate fridge and pantry space
- Create cleaning and chore schedules
- Clean up after yourself
- Ask to borrow
- Establish guest rules
- Agree on volume and temperature controls
- Respect privacy
- Respect the common spaces
- Maintain safety and security
1. Talk about expectations and pet peeves, and set rules for roommates before moving in
It’s important to lay down the law early on. Sit down with your roommates before signing a lease and talk about what everyone’s expectations are. Ensuring everyone is on the same page can prevent any misunderstandings or problems down the road. Some common house rules roommates should follow include keeping the apartment clean, minimizing noise, and respecting each other’s belongings. Taking the time to sit down and discuss your top pet peeves before you move in together will help to make your life much easier.
2. Sign a roommate agreement
A roommate agreement is a contract that you and your roommates sign; it outlines all of your agreed-upon rules. This document can help to prevent any disagreements or arguments down the road. So, whether you’re moving into someone’s space, they’re moving into yours, or you and your roommate are apartment hunting together, sit down and ask the important questions and create a roommate agreement.
It’s also a good idea to include things like how you will divide up bills, who is responsible for what chores, and what the guest policy is. Having everything in writing will help ensure that everyone is on the same page. It’s essential to go over the agreement periodically and update it if any situation changes. Here’s a handy roommate ground rules template to get you started.
3. Pay your share of the bills
In the agreement, establish the date that the rent is due date and the percentage you’ll all pay. It would help if you also outlined the plan for the utility bills, like gas, water, electricity, and internet. In your agreement, include how you plan to split these bills and whose name they will be in.
4. Create bathroom, kitchen, and laundry schedules
Creating bathroom and cooking schedules is one of the rules of living with a roommate that can help to keep the peace. If there’s only one bathroom and you all need to get ready for work or school, determine who needs to use it first and how much time they can spend. For example, you could create a schedule that allows everyone to use the bathroom for one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening.
Establish cooking times as well, especially if you have dietary restrictions. If your apartment has a washer and dryer, set times for when each roommate can do laundry, and don’t leave clothes in the appliances. Remove them promptly so your roommate has time to do laundry. This roommate rule will save you both time and frustration. Some things to consider include:
- How many people are living in the apartment?
- What time do your roommates need to be up and out of the apartment?
- Do your roommates work different shifts?
5. Establish fridge and pantry space
Everyone needs space in the refrigerator and pantry or kitchen shelves, and unless you’ve all agreed to share everything, mark off an area or space for your food, drinks, and condiments. Throw out any old food, and always ask if you can eat your roommate’s food, even leftovers. Replace any of your roommate’s food that you finished, like if you ate the last cookie in the package. If you spill anything in the refrigerator or freezer, clean it up immediately.
6. Create cleaning and chore schedules
Another important thing to consider is how you’ll keep the apartment clean. Some chores to consider are sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, dusting, and taking out the trash. You could create a cleaning schedule that designates certain days or times for each person to complete their chores. For example, you could be responsible for the living room and bathroom for one week while your roommate cleans the kitchen. Then, you can switch. Alternatively, you could create a chore wheel that assigns different chores to different people on a rotating basis.
7. Clean up after yourself
In addition to following the cleaning schedule, it’s also important to clean up after yourself in general. When you finish eating, wash and put away your dishes, clean any food out of the sink, and wipe the counters and table down. After your time in the bathroom:
- Pick up wet towels and dirty clothes.
- Clean the shower or tub.
- Wipe down the sink.
Leaving your mess for someone else to clean up is inconsiderate and can cause arguments and tension between roommates. Also, keep your toiletries and items in a separate space unless you’ve agreed to share them.
8. Ask to borrow things instead of taking them
Even if you and your roommate wear the same size clothes and shoes, always ask to borrow something. That also includes things like food, toiletries, and other personal belongings. You’re also responsible for cleaning the item after using it, and if you damage it, you need to replace it. Taking someone’s things without asking can lead to arguments and hard feelings. If you respect your roommates’ belongings, they’ll be more likely to respect yours.
9. Establish rules concerning your significant other and guests
In your roommate agreement, be sure to talk about how often a significant other can visit or stay overnight. It’s important to make sure that everyone is comfortable having someone else in the house, even for dinner and a movie. The same goes for having friends or family over. As we discussed earlier, setting good roommate rules and expectations from the beginning will help keep the peace.
10. Agree to volume and temperature controls
Listening to music or your favorite television show is a great way to relax or brighten your mood. However, if someone’s trying to sleep, study, or have quiet time, be respectful and turn the volume to an agreeable level. It might be helpful to create quiet hours in your agreement, so everyone knows when it’s time to put on their headphones to listen to music.
The same goes for the temperature. Some people like their shared living space warmer or cooler than others. Find a reasonable temperature with which everyone can live comfortably and keep the thermostat set there. When finding the right apartment temperature, you may also want to consider your electricity or gas bill.
11. Set privacy boundaries
Even though you’re cohabitating with someone, it’s important to remember that everyone deserves their privacy. There should be equal respect for each other’s personal space, belongings, and conversations. If the bedroom door’s closed, your roommate probably wants their own space. If your roommate has headphones on and appears deep in thought or concentration, interrupting them can make them lose focus. Also, snooping through your roommate’s things or listening in on their phone calls is rude and could lead to trust issues.
12. Respect shared spaces
In most roommate situations, you should agree on shared spaces like the living room, kitchen, and bathroom. Talk with your roommate before hanging artwork or moving furniture around to see if they feel comfortable with the changes. Pick up after yourself, and try not to hog the couch and the television. If either of you wants to have a party, discuss the rules for the event, like how long it’ll last, how many people you’ll allow, and if there will be food and drinks. The host should also let their party guests know so everyone is on the same page.
13. Establish safety rules
Determine who will lock the doors at night, draw the shades, and turn on any evening security lights. Ask if your roommate feels comfortable with you giving someone else a set of keys to the apartment. Have emergency phone numbers displayed so everyone can find them easily.
Setting up these roommate rules can make the experience pleasant, amicable, and cost-effective. Keep the lines of communication open, learn to resolve conflicts or arguments, and follow the rules listed in the roommate agreement to help keep the peace in the household.
Why are roommate rules important?
Setting roommate rules is essential for several reasons:
Clarity and expectations
Roommate rules establish clear expectations for everyone living together. They provide guidelines on how to share space, responsibilities, and resources, reducing the potential for misunderstandings and conflicts.
Respect
Rules promote respect among roommates. They outline boundaries and norms, ensuring that everyone’s needs and preferences are considered and respected.
Conflict prevention
Well-defined rules can help prevent conflicts before they arise. By addressing potential sources of friction, such as cleanliness, noise, and shared responsibilities, you reduce the likelihood of disputes.
Communication
The process of setting rules encourages open and effective communication. Roommates must discuss their preferences and come to mutual agreements, fostering a healthy communication dynamic within the household.
Fairness
Rules promote fairness and equity. They help ensure that everyone shares the responsibilities and benefits of living together, whether it’s financial obligations, chores, or access to shared spaces.
Financial transparency
When roommates split expenses and agree on a financial plan, it creates transparency and accountability in managing bills and rent payments. This can help prevent financial disputes.
Security
Rules can address safety and security concerns, such as locking doors and managing access to the apartment. This helps protect the well-being and belongings of all residents.
Privacy
Establishing rules around personal space and privacy ensures that roommates feel secure and respected in their living environment.
Flexibility
Rules can adapt to changing circumstances. They provide a framework for discussing adjustments if roommates’ needs or situations change over time.
Peaceful coexistence
Ultimately, setting roommate rules is about creating a harmonious living environment. When everyone understands the expectations and agrees to abide by them, it fosters a more peaceful and enjoyable shared living experience.
Final thoughts
Roommate rules are vital for maintaining a balanced and respectful living situation, preventing conflicts, and ensuring that everyone feels comfortable and secure in their shared space. Clear rules support open communication and a sense of fairness, ultimately contributing to a positive living experience.
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