South Carolina Roommate Agreement in minutes

What is a Roommate Agreement?

A Roommate Agreement is a written contract between people sharing a home. It sets out how rent, bills, and household responsibilities are divided, and what the house rules are, so everyone knows what they agreed to.

Unlike a lease, which is between tenants and a landlord, a roommate agreement is between the roommates themselves. It fills the gaps a lease leaves open: who pays what share, who gets which room, and how day-to-day life in the home works.

When do you need one?

Any time you share housing with someone who is not on the same page by default, a written agreement protects everyone. Common cases include:

• Moving in with a new roommate you don't know well
• Sharing an apartment where only one person is on the lease
• Splitting a house with friends and wanting to keep the friendship intact
• Renting out a spare room in a home you lease or own
• Student housing where roommates change every year

What to include

A complete Roommate Agreement answers the questions that cause the most conflict before they come up. Make sure yours covers:

• Full names of all roommates and the address of the shared home
• The term of the agreement and what happens when someone moves out early
• Each person's share of rent, the due date, and who pays the landlord
• How the security deposit is split and returned
• Room assignments and which spaces are shared
• House rules on guests, quiet hours, pets, smoking, and cleaning
• Signatures of every roommate

Splitting rent, deposits, and bills

Money is the number one source of roommate disputes, so spell it out precisely. State each person's exact share of the rent, whether it is an even split or weighted by room size, and who is responsible for sending the full payment to the landlord.

Do the same for utilities and shared costs: electricity, water, internet, streaming services, and household supplies. Note whose name each account is in, how the others reimburse them, and by what date. A clear paper trail keeps small imbalances from turning into resentment.

State rules and your lease

Landlord-tenant law varies by state, and it shapes what a roommate agreement can do: security deposit rules, notice periods for moving out, and subletting rights all differ. Your agreement also cannot override the lease with your landlord, so it should work alongside it.

Tell us where you live and we tailor the document to your state, so the notice periods and deposit terms in your agreement line up with local rules.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Leaving the agreement verbal because "we're friends"
• Not saying what happens if someone moves out before the term ends
• Splitting rent but forgetting utilities, supplies, and one-off costs
• Skipping house rules on guests, quiet hours, and cleaning
• Contradicting the lease instead of working alongside it
• Not having every roommate sign and keep a copy