Share This Article
One of the biggest financial mistakes people make when living with a roommate is failing to have clear, written communication about the terms of the financial arrangement. Obviously, this is even more common when the roommates are also in a romantic relationship because who wants to talk about money?
What The Law Says
Most tenant law includes what is known as “joint and several liability”. This allows the landlord to collect rent, damages, or amounts owed for any reason from either roommate, irrespective of who “caused” the amounts to be due. The landlord may not even need to attempt to collect from both roommates but can demand payment from either roommate unilaterally.
Using The Law To Your Advantage
If you end up paying your roommate’s debt to the landlord, you can take that roommate to court to try to recover the disputed amount. However, absent a written agreement between you and your roommates as to how the financial obligations were to be divided, the judge will decide. A written agreement is particularly important if the roommates verbally agreed to anything other than a 50/50 split.
A Contract? But We’re Roommates!
Can it be awkward to ask your roommate to sign a contract? Probably, but how much more awkward is it to take them to court? Put yourself in the other person’s shoes – would you be offended if a roommate asked you to sign a contract … or would you think “Wow, that’s a good idea! I never thought of that!”
