Roommate agreement in New York: what to agree on before you move in
Updated October 25, 2026
A roommate agreement is a short written note between the people who live together. It sits next to the lease with the landlord, not instead of it. This is general guidance, not legal advice: for anything involving the lease itself, read your contract and ask a lawyer or a tenant organization if needed.
Rent
- How rent is split: equally, or by room size and private bathroom.
- Who pays the landlord, and by which date each roommate pays their share.
- Who signed the lease. Everyone who signed is usually responsible toward the landlord for the full rent, not only for their share.
Utilities
In New York the usual shared bills are electricity, often gas, and internet. Heat and water are often included in the rent, but check your lease. Agree whose name each account is in, how you split it and how fast people pay back. A shared expense app such as Roomly Split keeps the running balance for you.
Security deposit and guarantors
- How much each roommate put toward the security deposit. In New York it is generally capped at one month of rent.
- Who used a guarantor or guarantor service, and what happens to that if they move out.
- How the deposit is returned or passed on when one roommate leaves.
- Who covers damage to the apartment, and how it is split when it is shared space.
Living together
- Cleaning: a rota for the kitchen, bathroom and common areas, and how often.
- Trash and recycling: who takes it out, and on which collection days.
- Shared items: cleaning supplies, toilet paper, basic groceries. Split them or keep them separate.
- Guests: how often and for how long, and whether partners can stay several nights a week.
- Quiet hours on weeknights and weekends.
When someone leaves
- How much notice a roommate gives before moving out, for example 30 or 60 days.
- Who finds the replacement roommate, whether the others can say no, and whether the landlord has to approve.
- What happens if the room stays empty: does the leaving roommate keep paying until someone moves in?
Solving disagreements
Agree on one simple rule, such as a short house talk once a month, or bringing problems up within a few days instead of letting them build up. Most roommate fights are about money and cleaning, and both are easier once they are written down.
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