Having a Roommate for Rental Sharing
By sharing a rental house or an apartment with a roommate or roommates can potentially lower your monthly outlay on the apartment. However, whether it would ultimately turn out to be a rewarding experience or a nightmare depends on several factors, which we will consider in more detail below.
However, you should take all necessary and possible precautions against the worst possible situation. Two good options available to you in this regard are (1) subjecting the prospective roommates to thorough screening inclusive of their credit scores or ratings etc., and (b) getting their names included in the rental agreement as permanent residents of the apartment.
The Pros and Cons of Keeping a Roommate
The main advantage of having a roommate or roommates by sharing the rental on an equal basis is financial. Another advantage is that you can afford to rent a larger apartment with all its additional facilities and conveniences than you would be without any roommates to split the monthly rental with. Depending on the good nature and affability of your roommate, you would be able to share in the responsibilities and chores of maintaining the rental apartment / house and perhaps preparing some food for sharing together at least on limited occasions.
The biggest disadvantage of keeping roommates is the loss of your freedom and privacy. With another shareholder in the house with equal rights and privileges, you are compelled to compromise on your privacy unless the roommate happens to be an exceptionally intelligent and receptive person to realize exactly where his welcome ends and to keep away even from the sight of the other person at other times as a measure of respect and courtesy for the other’s privacy and freedom and for the sake of an overall happy long term relationship.
Obviously splitting the household responsibilities and chores between or among the roommates is not that easy as splitting the rent. The responsibilities may not be evenly distributed when one may get the feeling that he is doing the lion’s share while others just take things easy. Conversely, if one roommate neglects to perform his assigned duties causing room for disputes and frustrations to arise among others. Pent up frustrations could later lead to resentments and open conflict which would ultimately lead to making life in the apartment an unhappy experience for all concerned.
Choose a Roommate that Suits You Well
A proper roommate will be a person who will pay his dues monthly on a timely manner and be conscious of his responsibilities to maintain the rental apartment in very good condition and appearance. He should be a person who likes to keep his immediate surroundings neat, clean and hygienic and is not lazy to perform his part towards achieving these objectives.
Granted that your roommate is having all these good qualities, still there are other areas where your personal interests and lifestyles could clash. If he is a person who likes to open up his stereo set-up full blast more often than not, or keep his TV running most of the time it could cause problems not only to you and the other roommates, but also to the immediate neighbors in the adjoining apartments. The same goes for a roommate who entertains frequently by inviting outsiders and keeping to late nights.
If the habitual times of sleeping and getting up differ vastly in the case of all the roommates, that could also give rise to jittery nerves that may even subsequently lead to affecting the others’ employment and social life adversely. For example, if one roommate likes to retire to bed early in the night and get up very early in the subsequent morning, his pattern may clash with those of others in the apartment with a preference for staying up till late and to wake up not earlier than 9.00 a.m. the following day.
Get the Roommates Included in the Rental Contract
Getting all the names of the roommates included in the rental contract ensures the rights and privileges of all, so that no single roommate can unjustifiably threaten another to get out of their sight except for very good reasons; even in cases of severe conflict among the roommates. Further, this arrangement precludes the leasing agent from holding any one roommate responsible for delays or non-payment of rentals on time.