When you are planning on renting, you have to consider the option of shared accommodations. Sharing accommodations will help make your rent more affordable; however there are problems that could arise.
People who share living space must communicate how they expect to live together.
For shared accommodations, guidelines must be set in advance to avoid any future problems.
What should be discussed are household responsibilities, such as taking out the trash, cleaning up after yourself, etc. The guidelines should also cover privacy issues, personal property and keys. When I saw keys, I do not just mean keeping your copy of the key safe, but who you hand the key to, or give a copy to.
You have to consider how you and your roommates view overnight guests, smoking, food, drugs and alcohol usage. Will your internet connection be shared? Or does only one roommate need internet while they are at home.
A bid consideration that must be made is whether the private space for each roommate differs in any way; I particularly mean if some bedroom is bigger than others. If so, you will have to discuss who gets what, and if there are any additional costs included.
Beyond the need to respect one another, there must be at least one roommate who needs to assume legal obligations. Someone has to be responsible for damages to the property and paying the rent on time.
The person or persons who sign the lease with the landlord will become legally responsible for the other roommates. You should have everyone living with you be on the lease therefore everyone is equally responsible for getting the rent paid on time and other obligations.
If you are all not on the lease, you will have to be prepared to take responsibility for your roommates’ actions.
Sharing accommodations can be a great experience, however if you do not cover yourself legally then it could turn out bad for you. Keep in mind the guidelines you have set and try not to cross them as it will only make your roommate uncomfortable.
Heleen Jacobsen
Broker of Record with InfoMarket Group GMAC Real Estate
www.infomarketgroup.com
