Free Tool
Roommate Agreement Generator
Create a free, customized room rental agreement in minutes. Fill in the details, download your PDF, and protect everyone in the arrangement.
Property & Roommates
Why You Need a Roommate Agreement
Prevent disputes before they start
Money, cleanliness, guests, and noise are the top causes of roommate conflict. A written agreement sets clear expectations from day one — no awkward conversations later.
Protect yourself legally
If a roommate stops paying rent or refuses to leave, a signed agreement gives you documentation. While not a lease, it establishes the terms both parties agreed to and can be referenced in small claims court or mediation.
Clarify who pays what
Rent splits, security deposits, utilities, internet, groceries — without a clear agreement, assumptions lead to resentment. Put the numbers in writing.
NYC-specific considerations
Under New York Real Property Law 235-f, every NYC tenant has the right to at least one roommate regardless of what the lease says. However, roommates not on the lease have fewer protections. A roommate agreement fills that gap. In rent-stabilized apartments, the tenant on the lease cannot charge the roommate more than their proportional share of the legal regulated rent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a roommate agreement legally binding?
A roommate agreement is a private contract between co-occupants. While it's not a lease and doesn't create a landlord-tenant relationship, it is enforceable as a contract if both parties sign it. It can be used as evidence in small claims court or mediation.
What's the difference between a roommate agreement and a sublease?
A roommate agreement is between co-occupants sharing the space. A sublease is between a tenant and a subtenant, where the original tenant retains the lease. If you're on the lease together, you need a roommate agreement. If one person holds the lease and rents to the other, you may need a sublease agreement.
Can my landlord prevent me from having a roommate?
In NYC, no — under Real Property Law 235-f, every tenant has the right to at least one roommate. Your landlord can require you to notify them of the roommate's name within 30 days, but they cannot refuse. This applies even if your lease says 'no roommates.'
What should a roommate agreement include?
At minimum: names, address, move-in date, rent split, security deposit terms, utility responsibilities, guest policies, quiet hours, cleaning expectations, move-out notice period, and how disputes will be handled. Our generator covers all of these.
Do both roommates need to sign?
Yes. Both (or all) roommates should sign and keep a copy. An unsigned agreement has much less legal weight. Our generator creates a document with signature lines for all parties.
Moving into a new place?
Check the building's health score before you sign anything — violations, complaints, bedbugs, heat history, and more.