|
|
The Roommate Contract | 3,719 Views |
|
|
|
| Your school is likely to have a set of rules for you to follow if you're living on-campus. Sometimes, though, these don't cover everything that might come up between roommates, floor mates, dorm mates, etc. To help iron out some of these details, you should be given the opportunity to fill out a roommate contract. |
|
The Roommate Contract The roommate contract is an agreement between you and your roommates. You may also be given the chance to fill out a floor contract, suite contract, etc. Basically, what this allows you to do is come up with a set of "house rules" for your shared living space.
|
|
Photo by Movers.com |
The contract can be used to hold you and your roommate(s) accountable should a dispute arise. For example, you and your roommates may have agreed upon a lights-out time. If one of you repeatedly violates the rule, and another is taking exception to it, you can bring the contract to your RA (resident assistant) or other authority to help settle the matter. If the problem continues to progress, the contract can be used to support more aggressive action against the rule-breaker.
|
| TIP: If your school doesn't give you a roommate contract to fill out, you could ask for one or make your own. |
Things to Think About Hopefully, your relationship with your roommate(s) will be good and you won't need to use your contract, but it's a good idea for both (or all) of you to agree on some ground rules. Sit down and discuss what you want to include in the contract. If there's anything particularly important to you, make sure you bring it up. Here are some things to think about:
- Quiet hours/lights out – You and your roommate might have very different sleep habits. If that's the case, you'll need to come to a compromise on quiet hours or a lights-out time. This will be easier to figure out if you have similar sleep habits.
- Cleanliness – You should come up with some rules regarding cleaning up after yourselves, taking out the garbage, vacuuming duty, etc.
- Guests – Your school will probably have some sort of guest policy, but you can refine that policy yourself on the roommate contract. This could include rules about how many people can stay over at once and getting permission from each other when one of you wants to have someone stay over.
- Shared space – You could write a down a few guidelines for how you will share your space. For example, you might want to decide what you can or cannot have in the room.
- Alcohol – If everyone in your room is over 21 years old, your school may allow you to keep alcohol in your room. Still, you may want to set up your own rule regarding drinking. You may decide it's a bad idea to have alcohol in the room at all, or you might just put some restrictions on when you can and cannot drink in the room.
These are just a few ideas for what you might want to put on your roommate contract. Whatever you decide to include, make sure that you word the rules carefully so that if the time comes when you need them, they can be easily understood. If all goes well during the year, you'll never have to think about the contract again. If things with your roommate(s) go awry, though, you may be glad to have it.
| |
 |
|
|
 |
Popular Guides |
|
 |
Related Guides |
|
|
|
|