Housemate Agreement Template

Most housemate arguments are about money, cleaning, noise and guests — and most can be avoided by agreeing the rules at the start. Enter the address, housemates, rent and room sizes, choose how to split rent and bills, tick the house rules you want, and the generator produces a clear housemate agreement for everyone to read, discuss and sign.

Why write a housemate agreement

Living with other people works best when expectations are clear. A housemate agreement records how rent and bills are split, who pays what and when, and the everyday rules that make a shared home pleasant — cleaning, noise, guests, food and what happens when someone moves out. Writing it together at the start is much easier than negotiating in the middle of a disagreement, and it gives everyone something to point to later.

Housemate agreement or tenancy agreement?

A housemate agreement cannot change the terms of your lease with the landlord. If you are on a joint tenancy, each tenant may be responsible for the whole rent to the landlord — the agreement explains how you share it among yourselves.

Splitting rent fairly

• Equal split — simplest when bedrooms are similar.
• By bedroom size — part of the rent covers shared areas (kitchen, living room, bathroom) and is split equally; the rest is split in proportion to bedroom floor area.
• Adjust for features — an en-suite, a balcony or a parking space can justify a higher share; agree an amount together.
• Couples sharing one room usually pay more than a single person in that room, as they use more of the shared space and utilities.

Worked example

Three housemates share a $2,400 flat. Bedrooms measure 150, 120 and 110 sq ft. With 40% of rent treated as shared ($960, or $320 each) and 60% ($1,440) split by bedroom size, Alex pays $888.42, Priya $774.74 and Tom $736.84 — the three shares add up to exactly $2,400. Bills of $300 are split equally at $100 each.

What to include

1. Names, address and start date.
2. Rent: total, due date, who pays the landlord, each person’s share.
3. Bills: which bills, who manages each, how and when others pay.
4. Deposit: how damage and deductions are shared.
5. Cleaning and chores: rota, standards, shared supplies.
6. Guests, partners staying over, parties and quiet hours.
7. Food, shared items and borrowing.
8. Pets, smoking, parking and storage.
9. Moving out: notice, finding a replacement, final bills.
10. How disagreements are handled and when the agreement is reviewed.

Shared costs beyond rent and bills

A shared spreadsheet or expense app, updated each week, stops small amounts turning into big arguments.

When someone new moves in

A new housemate should read and sign the agreement before moving in. Use the change as a chance to review the rules — a new person may have a different schedule or needs — and update the rent split if room allocations change. Record meter readings on the move-in date so bills can be divided fairly between the old and new housemate.

Tips for a harmonious house

• Hold a short house meeting once a month.
• Use a shared expense app or spreadsheet for bills and supplies.
• Put the cleaning rota somewhere visible.
• Agree on a quiet signal for “I need to study/sleep”.
• Talk about problems early and directly, not by leaving notes.
• Review the agreement when anyone moves in or out.

Is a housemate agreement legally binding?

It can be treated as a contract between housemates in some circumstances, but it is mainly a practical record of what you agreed. Enforcement varies by country and state, and many issues are better solved by conversation. For money disputes, a signed agreement is useful evidence. For anything involving your lease, deposit protection or eviction, check your local tenancy rules or ask a tenants’ advice service.

Privacy and disclaimer

The generator runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded or stored. It provides a general template, not legal advice.