rooomate vs Girlfriend

[hillbillysurf]

Hi all,
I'm moving this weekend, into a rented house with a roommate. However, I have a long distance girlfriend. She's thinking about relocating to my area for a job, in which case she would most likely move in, at least for a few months to get on her feet.

I'm sure my roommate wouldn't mind the extra person living there, but how should this affect rent, etc? Since the two of us would share a room what should it be? What do y'all think?

[twentyfive]

Hi all,
I'm moving this weekend, into a rented house with a roommate. However, I have a long distance girlfriend. She's thinking about relocating to my area for a job, in which case she would most likely move in, at least for a few months to get on her feet.

I'm sure my roommate wouldn't mind the extra person living there, but how should this affect rent, etc? Since the two of us would share a room what should it be? What do y'all think?

Easy, rent isn't separated by how many people are there. The only roommates I ever had we got a long really well. When his girlfriend moved in, all the rent stayed the same. It's by the room you're using, since she was in his room, he had to tell her for the money, but it was still 50/50 basically since she moved in. Now the bills, phone bills were in my name, I would highlight mine and they would mark theirs and we'd pay what we used.

Electricity is a different subject. It depends on how much electricity is being used. When I first moved in, he actually did the sq ft of each room and then devided the price between them. We didn't count the common areas (hall bathroom, kitchen, living room). But like electricity I would devide by three, since that's not space, but usage, and you could use in the bedroom while she's watching tv in the living room. :)

Hope this helps...

[and1grad]

I agree with 25. Also, dont assume the roommate is going to be cool with it. Make sure that is something that is addressed beforehand.

[squidney]

yes, definitely make sure the roommate is cool with it. i've had two roommates who moved their boyfriends in and it was very un-cool. mostly because it was "unnofficial". it seems like you're going to be fairly formal about it - as long as there is a clear understanding of the new divisions of rent, utilities, usage of shared space - etc it should be okay. although it might be an easier transition to add a girl to two guys than it is to add a guy to two girls.

[wordsmith]

There's no way you should assume it's all cool with your roommate. Common courtesy dictates that you talk it over and honor that person's feelings.

[winneythepooh7]

I agree with the others. Never just ASSume because you know what they say about that ;).


Most roommate complaints often tend to stem from situations you describe you are about to get yourself into.

[Bsig84]

yes, definitely make sure the roommate is cool with it. i've had two roommates who moved their boyfriends in and it was very un-cool. mostly because it was "unnofficial". it seems like you're going to be fairly formal about it - as long as there is a clear understanding of the new divisions of rent, utilities, usage of shared space - etc it should be okay. although it might be an easier transition to add a girl to two guys than it is to add a guy to two girls.

I had two roommates do the same thing to me. They both let their boyfriend start living with me without even mentioning it to me. I was so pissed and it ruined our friendship. Don't assume. If my roommates had talked to me first there would have been absolutely no problem. It was the fact that they were so disrespectful to just do it without talking to me that made me mad.

[hillbillysurf]

Thanks all for the replies........I've talked over it with him before, but I'll clarify to make sure he knows it's a real possibility.

[Rage]

My wife and I rented a house with one of our friends when we were just out of college. We divided it equally amongst the 3 of us. Even though my wife and I shared a room, we still made up 2/3 of everything else. We basically just split everything into 3rds. I understand the whole idea of charging per room, but I just didn't feel right about expecting our friend to pay for 1/2 of a space he has to share with 2 people. It was a 3 bedroom house and we made the 3rd room into an office because of the sleeping arrangement. I guess each situation is different.

[HDC80]

Also you might want to look at the lease terms, since in most it has some statement about long term 'guests' or people living there that are not on the lease.

It can be grounds for eviction, so even if your roommate is cool, check the documents to make sure that your landlord will be too.

[wordsmith]

Or (pending roommate approval, of course), just have your SO added to the lease.

When I moved in with my BF, I was added to the lease. The way we split up who owes what is our business, and I write my BF a monthly check and he writes the check that goes to the management company, but I am listed on the lease as a tenant.

[E11e]

I understand the whole idea of charging per room, but I just didn't feel right about expecting our friend to pay for 1/2 of a space he has to share with 2 people.


Exactly!! Especially if you only have one bathroom! Just because they live in one room, they still use twice as much of the kitchen, living room, bathroom, and make twice as much noise, dishes, trash....

I had a roommate who I was really close to and then her boyfriend didn't officially move in but started sleeping over 7 days a week and was at our apt 24 hrs a day. I tried bringing up the whole splitting rent thing, but since he hadn't "officially" moved in and was still paying rent at "his" place my roommate made it sound like I was being unreasonable for asking. Besides, he didn't actually "live" with us, right? Ugh. Not my problem that he is paying for another apartment that he doesn't use! The living room went from being a place where we would hang out to her and her boyfriend space and I was only comfortable in my room. Two roommates is a LOT more than one!

Be careful, SO's moving in is a sensitive area!

[hillbillysurf]

My wife and I rented a house with one of our friends when we were just out of college. We divided it equally amongst the 3 of us. Even though my wife and I shared a room, we still made up 2/3 of everything else. We basically just split everything into 3rds. I understand the whole idea of charging per room, but I just didn't feel right about expecting our friend to pay for 1/2 of a space he has to share with 2 people. It was a 3 bedroom house and we made the 3rd room into an office because of the sleeping arrangement. I guess each situation is different.

This is a great idea. Our house is actually a 3 br, the third being a smaller room that would make a great office or something else. Maybe I'll pursue this. I definitely agree that me and the roommate paying 50/50 seems unfair to him.

[Bocheezu]

I understand the whole idea of charging per room, but I just didn't feel right about expecting our friend to pay for 1/2 of a space he has to share with 2 people.

In your case it doesn't make sense because you and your wife want to share a room together. That changes things. We tried this in college with 3 people that all wanted a room to themselves and it was a nightmare.

I decided to pair up with one guy and share a room, and the solo guy initially agreed to pay half the rent. He never would pay it, though. So we started moving some of our stuff in there (computers) because it was really crowded in our room. We told him that he had to pay half the rent if we were going to move our computers back out. He got pissed and threw our computers in the hallway. Fist fight ensued after one of my speakers busted.

[HDC80]

Im really not understanding the whole breaking down by sharing rooms etc.

Its one thing if you and another person move into a place and one room is SUBSTANTIALLY smaller than the other and you agree to split the cost differently....

But otherwise, why wouldnt each person just pay 1/3 of the rent and 1/3 of the bills. Seems to eliminate arguments.....and eases EVERYONES pockets