College Roommate Agreement Contract

What should be in a College Roommate Agreement Contract? That depends upon what you and your roommates consider important. By having a College Roommate Agreement Contract it will help you and your roommate(s) establish living expectations for the year. Having all the rules written up enables the student to visually see what they must do and helps ASD individuals learn how to get along with others which is something they need to do independently throughout their lives.


Many colleges have students to fill out a Roommate Agreement Contract upon arrival into the dorms. These contracts are thoroughly discussed, filled out, signed, and all required persons are given a copy. While Roommate Agreement Contracts are not usually legally binding, they are a great way to make sure that you and your college roommate are on the same page about the every-day details that must be managed when you live with someone else. While they may seem like a pain to do, roommate agreements are a smart idea.


Even if your college does not require you to sign a Roommate Agreement Contract these contracts can be an excellent tool for preventing misunderstandings about what is and is not acceptable behavior. You and your roommate should cover the following topics:


1. Sharing/Borrowing/Taking/Replacing- Are there rules about sharing/borrowing/taking, etc.? What items do all roommates feel comfortable sharing with each other? What items would you rather not share?

2. Space- Can your roommate’s friends hang out on your bed while you are gone? At your desk? Do you need private time alone in the room? When do you need private time? How much advance notice is needed? Are there times when it's not okay (like finals week)? How will you let each other know when not to come in?

3. Cleanliness- Do you like your room neat? Who and when is the room and bathroom cleaned? Who buys the cleaning supplies and do we share using them? Where will the cleaning supplies be kept? What is the cleaning schedule and who is responsible? What are the general house rules for keeping the room clean? When will the following be cleaned and by whom? Bathroom sink, tub/shower, toilet, sweeping and mopping the bathroom floor, mirror, bathroom counter, common area, trash? When will we rotate these responsibilities and what is the schedule? Where will roommate’s bathroom and shower items be kept?

4. Visitors/Guests- When is it okay to have people hanging out in the room? Do we give advance warning for guests coming into the room? How many people are okay? What days can a roommate have visitors? Who needs what when it comes to visitors -- e.g., is a quiet study group okay late at night or should no one be allowed in the room after, say 1:00 a.m.? Are visitors allowed to stay in the room alone? Is it okay for people to spend the night? How many hours in advance do roommates need to ask each other for permission to have overnight guests? What nights are overnight guests allowed to stay? Where will visitors sleep? What are the rules about the frequency of guests & duration of their stay?

5. Noise- Do both of you like the default to be quiet in the room? Music? The TV on as background? What do you need to study? What do you need to sleep? Can someone use earplugs or headphones? How much noise is too much? If there are unacceptable times to watch TV or play video games, when are they?

6. Designated Quiet Hours- During the week? During the weekend? Will guests be allowed during study hours and if so where? During study hours, how will TV, music, and/or videogames be handled?

7. Sleep- When do you go to bed? When do you wake up? I sleep best when the room is _____. When a roommate is in the room sleeping what is not acceptable to do?

8. Common Area Guidelines- What are the guidelines for common space with visitors? Who can use what and when? What days and time can visitors be in the common area?

9. Food/Cooking/Kitchen Supplies/Kitchen Clean-up- Can you eat each other's food? Will you share? If so, who buys what? What happens if someone eats the last of an item? What happens if the fridge turns into a science project; who cleans it out? What kinds of foods are okay to keep in the room? Who is responsible for buying kitchen supplies and food staples? Will we take turns cooking meals and washing dishes? What are the rules for cleaning up after yourself in the kitchen? When will the following be cleaned and by whom? Sink, sweeping and mopping floor, stove, dishes, counters, trash, refrigerator? When will we rotate these responsibilities and what is the schedule?

10. Phone- When and how long or often can the phone be used? If a roommate takes a message for someone, how will it be delivered?

11. Safety and Security- Do you prefer that the room is always locked? If you are going to be gone from the room for a long period of time, do you let your roommate know? To enhance our safety we have agreed to _________.

12. Smoking, Drinking, Drugs- What is allowed and not allowed? If you're under 21 and get caught with alcohol in the room, there can be problems. How do you feel about keeping alcohol in the room? If you're over 21, who buys the alcohol? When, if at all, is it okay to have people drinking in the room?

13. Parties & Entertaining- What are the rules for advance notice, frequency, maximum number of guests, off-limit rooms, parties on school nights, and morning after clean-up? How many days is advance do roommates need to ask each other for permission to have large gatherings? When are large gatherings permitted? How will we share information regarding guests (talking, texting, leaving notes, etc.)?

14. Concerns- If a roommate has a concern how shall it be addressed? Which is the best way to bring up a concern? What makes it easier to talk about or discuss a concern? What will we do when we need help in resolving an issue? How will we communicate our concerns (written notes, email, verbally, etc.)? When we have reached an agreement will we update our roommate agreement?

15. Consequences For Violating Roommate Agreement- What happens if you violate the roommate agreement?