Roommate agreement template for a calmer shared home

How do you agree on shared bills, chores and guests without turning every conversation into a disagreement? A roommate agreement template gives your household a practical starting point. It helps you put everyday expectations into words, from who buys cleaning supplies to how you raise a missed payment. The aim is not to make your home feel formal. It is to record arrangements everyone understands, with room for different needs and changing circumstances.

Below, you can copy and edit a template together, then use the guidance to talk through contributions, boundaries, repairs and moving out. Leave unresolved questions open rather than rushing to fill every blank. Keep household preferences separate from tenancy obligations, and seek qualified local advice where rights or legal status are unclear. Once you have agreed the wording, decide where to keep it and when to revisit it.

Key takeaways

• Discuss everyday needs before filling in the template, so expectations about cleaning, noise, guests and shared spaces reflect the people who live in your home.
• Record agreed contributions, payment dates and shared shopping arrangements, including how to approve new expenses and raise missed payments without blame or unnecessary personal questions.
• Check tenancy terms and seek suitable local advice before settling questions about deposits, repairs, moving out or the legal status of your household agreement.
• Keep an accessible copy of the agreed wording without unnecessary identity or payment details, and treat signatures as acknowledgement rather than proof of legal enforceability.
• Review arrangements together when circumstances change, record revised decisions and use tasks, shopping lists, calendar entries and reminders to follow through on your own responsibilities.

In this guide

• Copy and edit this roommate agreement template
• Talk through expectations before filling it in
• Agree on bills, chores and shared shopping
• Plan for boundaries, damage and moving out
• Record the agreement and revisit it when life changes

Copy and edit this roommate agreement template

Everyday arrangements: [housemate names], [agreed contributions], [payment dates], [missed-payment conversation], [chores], [shared shopping]

Copy this roommate agreement template into a shared document. Replace the brackets together, remove anything that does not fit your home and talk through any gaps before signing. Aim for arrangements everyone understands, rather than wording that sounds formal.

Housemate names: This agreement records the household arrangements between [housemate names] at [home address]. We want our home to feel [shared priorities], and we agree to raise concerns through [preferred way to talk].

Agreed contributions: We will divide rent, household bills and other agreed costs as follows: [agreed contributions]. Before adding a shared expense, we will [how approval works]. We will keep payment records in [agreed place].

Payment dates: Each housemate will pay their agreed contribution by [payment dates], using [payment method]. Responsibility for making each household payment sits with [name or arrangement].

Missed-payment conversation: If someone expects to miss a payment, they will contact [person] through [channel]. We will discuss [what has changed], agree [next steps] and record any temporary arrangement in [shared place]. We will revisit it on [agreed date].

Chores: We will divide cleaning and other household jobs using [chores]. Our agreed standard for shared areas is [what finished looks like]. If someone cannot do their task, they will [swap or catch-up arrangement].

Shared shopping: We will share the cost of [shared shopping]. Personal items are [items or categories]. We will add requests to [shared list], agree purchases through [process] and settle costs using [arrangement].

Household boundaries: [guests], [quiet hours], [pets], [shared spaces], [existing damage], [repairs], [deposits], [moving out], [acknowledgements], [review date]

Use this part to discuss privacy, comfort and responsibility. Be specific about what needs a conversation rather than leaving each housemate to guess.

Guests: Our arrangements for visitors and overnight stays are [guests]. We will give notice through [channel] and discuss [situations needing agreement] before inviting someone.

Quiet hours: We agree to keep noise down during [quiet hours]. This covers [music, calls, appliances or other concerns]. For occasional exceptions, we will [how to ask].

Pets: Our agreed position on pets is [pets]. Any agreed care, cleaning, costs and boundaries are [details].

Shared spaces: We will use and leave communal areas according to [shared spaces]. Before borrowing belongings, moving furniture or storing personal items there, we will [agreed approach].

Existing damage: We have noted [existing damage] and stored any agreed photos or notes in [location].

Repairs: We will report problems through [repairs process]. Before arranging work or agreeing to share a cost, we will [approval process].

Deposits: We will record [deposits], including who paid what, where the relevant records are kept and any questions to clarify against our tenancy paperwork.

Moving out: If a housemate plans to leave, we will discuss [moving out arrangements], including notice, outstanding shared costs, belongings, cleaning and keys. We will check these arrangements against our tenancy paperwork.

Acknowledgements: By adding [acknowledgements], we confirm that we have read and discussed these arrangements and recorded any unresolved points here: [open questions].

Review date: We will revisit this agreement on [review date], or sooner if someone asks for a household conversation.

Further reading: SARS — South African Revenue Service.

Talk through expectations before filling it in

Share needs without blame: discuss different habits, record decisions and leave unresolved points open

Before filling in your roommate agreement template, make space for a conversation about how you want to live together. Aim for clear expectations rather than a list of complaints. Ask everyone to bring their own needs, preferences and concerns.

Start with everyday routines. Talk about sleep, work, cooking, cleaning, visitors and time alone. Avoid assuming that your idea of “tidy”, “quiet” or “reasonable notice” matches anyone else’s. Ask what those words would look like in practice.

Keep the conversation focused on situations, not personalities. Instead of “You’re always inconsiderate”, try “I need quiet when I’m getting ready for bed. Can we agree how to handle music and visitors?” Leave room for the other person to explain what matters to them, too.

Useful prompts include:

• What helps you feel comfortable in shared spaces?
• Which chores would you prefer to take responsibility for?
• How would you like to handle shared shopping and household costs?
• What notice would you appreciate before guests come over?
• How should we raise something that is not working?

Write down decisions in plain language. Replace vague intentions such as “keep the kitchen clean” with an agreed description of what needs doing and when. Check that everyone understands the wording before moving on.

Do not force an answer just to fill a blank. Mark unresolved points as open, note what still needs discussing and agree when to return to them. Where helpful, try a temporary arrangement and set a time to review it.

Give everyone space to read the draft without pressure. Ask whether anything feels unclear, unfair or difficult to manage. Treat edits as part of the conversation, not as a failure to agree.

Separate household expectations from tenancy obligations: check tenancy terms and seek local advice on rights and legal status

Keep your preferred way of sharing a home separate from questions about tenancy obligations. Use the household discussion to explore practical arrangements, such as chores, shared cupboards and how to communicate. For questions about what anyone must do, may do or is legally responsible for, check the relevant tenancy terms and seek local advice.

Have the tenancy paperwork available while you draft. Look for terms relevant to anything you want to include, particularly around guests, payments, property care and moving out. Flag any wording you do not understand rather than guessing at its meaning.

Avoid presenting a household preference as a legal requirement. Equally, do not assume that writing something down settles its legal status or changes an existing obligation.

If a proposed agreement touches on rights, deposits, liability or someone leaving the home, take that question to a suitably qualified local adviser. Ask them to clarify the position before you commit to the wording.

Keep any unresolved legal questions clearly marked in the draft. Return to them once you have advice, then check that everyone understands the proposed arrangement. Aim for a document that reflects your discussion without claiming more authority than you have established.

Further reading: Department of Home Affairs.

Agree on bills, chores and shared shopping

Record rent and bill contributions, payment dates and how to discuss missed payments without assuming equal shares are fair

Use your roommate agreement template to write down what each person has agreed to contribute, rather than starting with an equal split. Discuss what feels fair to your household. You might want to consider room size, use of shared spaces, personal circumstances or which costs belong to an individual.

Keep the wording specific enough to act on. For rent and each shared bill, record:

• Who is responsible for making the payment.
• What each person has agreed to contribute.
• When contributions need to arrive.
• How payments will be sent and acknowledged.
• Where the household can find the bill or payment record.

Separate shared costs from personal spending. Decide whether optional subscriptions, guests’ expenses or purchases made without discussion belong in the household budget. Agree how to approve a new shared expense before anyone commits everyone else to paying for it.

Leave space for a calm conversation about missed payments. You could write: “If you expect to miss a payment date, let the household know as soon as you can. We’ll discuss what is manageable and record any temporary arrangement.”

Agree where that conversation should happen, too. Choose a private discussion rather than raising someone’s finances in front of guests. Ask what needs to change without demanding personal details. If you agree a revised payment date or contribution, write it down and decide when to review it.

Agree on cleaning standards, task ownership and shared supplies, with room to adjust for capacity and changing circumstances

Describe what “clean enough” means in each shared space. Instead of leaving “keep the kitchen tidy” open to interpretation, agree on practical expectations: putting food away, wiping surfaces after cooking and leaving the sink ready for someone else to use.

Give each recurring chore a clear owner and an agreed time or trigger. Discuss the less visible work as well, such as noticing that supplies are running low, arranging repairs or putting bins out. Ask whether people would prefer regular responsibilities, a rotation or a flexible check-in.

For shared shopping, decide:

• Which food, cleaning products and household supplies are shared.
• Which items are personal and should not be used without asking.
• How to add something to the shopping list.
• Who buys shared supplies and how they are reimbursed.
• When a purchase needs agreement beforehand.

Make room for preferences and boundaries. Ask before substituting a shared product, and discuss any dietary, accessibility or cleaning-product needs people want the household to consider.

Build in a way to adjust responsibilities when circumstances change. Illness, work demands, caring responsibilities or reduced capacity can be prompts to revisit the arrangement, without requiring anyone to share more than they wish.

Agree how to request a swap, what can wait and when to check back in. Keep the focus on what needs doing and what each person can reasonably take on. Write down changes so nobody has to rely on memory or guess what was agreed.

Further reading: National Financial Ombud Scheme SA.

Plan for boundaries, damage and moving out

Discuss guests, overnight stays, noise, pets and shared spaces without judging different household habits

Start with what helps everyone feel comfortable at home. A roommate agreement template should make room for different routines, rather than treat a particular way of living as the right way.

Talk about preferences before turning them into rules. Someone might enjoy having friends round after work. Someone else might need a quiet evening or an early night. Ask what each person needs, where they can be flexible and what deserves advance notice.

Keep the discussion practical:

• Guests and overnight stays: Agree how to give a heads-up, which spaces guests can use and when to check with the household before inviting someone over. Discuss privacy, keys and cleaning up afterwards.
• Noise: Talk through music, calls, gaming, visitors and household chores. Describe what “quiet” means to you, rather than assuming everyone shares the same definition.
• Pets: Discuss any proposed pets before making a commitment. Cover care, cleaning, shared-space access and any concerns about comfort or allergies. Check the tenancy terms before agreeing.
• Shared spaces: Decide how you would like to use the kitchen, bathroom, living areas and storage. Include borrowing belongings, leaving things out and making space for each other.

Write down the agreement in neutral language. Prefer “check before borrowing” to comments about someone being careless. Leave out labels such as messy, difficult or antisocial.

Also agree how to raise concerns. Choose an approach that gives everyone space to speak without turning a small frustration into a household argument. Make room to revisit arrangements when routines change.

Record existing damage and repair reporting; check tenancy terms and local requirements before agreeing deposit, departure or replacement arrangements

Before settling in, walk through the home together. Note existing marks, damage and anything that appears to need attention. Consider taking dated photographs and keeping them alongside your shared notes. Follow any inspection or reporting process set out in your tenancy documents.

Agree how to flag a new problem. Decide where to record it, who should contact the landlord or letting agent, and how to keep the household informed. Avoid arranging repairs or promising payment before checking who is responsible and what permission may be needed.

For deposits, departure and replacement arrangements, check the tenancy terms and relevant local requirements before writing anything into your household agreement. Do not assume a shared agreement settles those questions. Seek suitable local guidance if anything is unclear.

Use the conversation to cover:

• How someone should tell the household they want to leave.
• What needs checking before agreeing a departure date.
• How to discuss outstanding shared costs and belongings.
• What cleaning, key handover and condition checks to arrange.
• How to approach a proposed replacement, including any required approval.

Keep unresolved points clearly marked rather than filling gaps with assumptions. Aim for a calm, usable record of what you have discussed, what you have agreed and what still needs checking.

Record the agreement and revisit it when life changes

Discuss signatures as a record of acknowledgement, not proof that every clause is enforceable; keep a copy without unnecessary identity or payment details

Once you have worked through your roommate agreement template together, read the finished version before signing. Check that it reflects what everyone actually discussed, rather than what someone assumed would happen. Pay particular attention to shared costs, cleaning, guests, quiet hours and moving out.

Treat signatures as a record that everyone has read and acknowledged the agreement. They are not proof that every clause is legally enforceable. Local law, your tenancy agreement and the circumstances may affect how a clause is treated. A household agreement should not be used to suggest that someone has given up rights they may hold under housing law. If a clause raises a legal concern, seek appropriate local legal guidance.

Leave room for questions before anyone signs. If someone disagrees with a responsibility or cannot meet it, resolve that openly rather than relying on a signature to settle the issue.

Keep the saved agreement focused on household arrangements. Names, the property address where relevant, signatures and the date may help identify the record. Avoid adding identity document copies, bank card details, account passwords or unrelated personal information. You can record who is responsible for a shared bill without including their payment credentials.

Give everyone access to the agreed copy. Use a clear file name that includes the agreement date, and decide where the current version will live. Keep access limited to the people who need it. If you retain an older version, mark it as superseded so it cannot easily be mistaken for the current agreement.

Set a review reminder, revisit changes together and record the latest decisions; keep tasks, shopping and documents organised

An agreement needs attention when household life changes. A new housemate, a different work pattern, a rent change or someone preparing to move out can make an existing arrangement impractical.

Agree when you will review it, then add a reminder. You can also identify events that should prompt an earlier conversation. The aim is to raise changes before unclear expectations become a source of friction.

At each review, look at what is working and what needs adjusting. Are cleaning responsibilities manageable? Is shared shopping being replenished fairly? Have guest arrangements or working hours changed? Keep the discussion specific and give everyone space to explain what they need.

Record the decisions you make together. Update the relevant wording, add the review date and ask everyone to acknowledge the revised agreement. Avoid quietly editing shared rules and assuming that access to the document means acceptance.

Separate the agreement from the everyday actions it creates. The agreement records responsibilities. Tasks help you carry them out. A shopping list keeps shared purchases visible, while calendar entries and reminders help you remember agreed dates.

Conquish can help keep those household arrangements organised. The Free plan includes tasks, shopping, reminders, calendar and contacts for one user. That makes it an option for managing your own responsibilities under the agreement; it does not mean everyone has shared access through that plan.

For the document itself, Conquish can back up household documents to Google Drive on the Premium plan. Wherever you keep your agreement, make the latest decisions easy to find and revisit them together when life changes.

Conclusion

Clear household arrangements give you something practical to return to when memories differ or routines change. A roommate agreement template helps you discuss expectations, record decisions and spot questions that still need attention. Its value comes from the conversation behind it, not from making the wording sound formal.

Start with what affects daily life: contributions, chores, shopping, guests and shared spaces. Be specific about responsibilities while leaving room to adjust for capacity and circumstances. Check tenancy paperwork where relevant. Seek qualified local advice before relying on wording about rights, deposits or someone leaving the home. A signature does not settle every legal question.

Once everyone has had time to read and discuss the agreement, keep the current copy somewhere they can access. Set a review reminder and revisit changes together rather than quietly editing the rules.

Conquish can help you organise the everyday actions that follow. Use tasks, shopping lists, calendar entries and reminders to manage your responsibilities. Keep the agreement as a record of what you have discussed, and give household life room to change.

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Frequently asked questions

Which household admin tools are included in Conquish’s Free plan?

Conquish’s Free plan includes tasks, shopping, reminders, calendar and contacts for one user. These tools can help you organise your own responsibilities under a household agreement. You might keep a shopping list for agreed supplies, add household jobs to tasks and use reminders for review dates. Keep the distinction clear: organising your responsibilities on the Free plan does not mean everyone in the household has shared access through it.

How many people does Conquish’s Free plan cover?

Conquish’s Free plan covers one user. It includes tasks, shopping, reminders, calendar and contacts, so you can use it to organise your own part of household life. For example, you might record your chores or add a reminder to discuss the agreement again. Do not treat the Free plan as shared household access. Agree separately how everyone will find the current agreement and hear about proposed changes.

Can we try Conquish Premium before paying?

Yes. Conquish offers a 30 day free trial of Premium with no card required. You can use the trial to see whether Premium fits the household admin you want to organise. Premium includes two-way sync with Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar, and can back up household documents to Google Drive. Start with the arrangements you already need to manage, rather than changing your household routines just to try features.

Do we need a card to start the Premium trial?

No. Conquish offers a 30 day free trial of Premium with no card required. You do not need to provide a card to start that trial. It gives you a chance to explore Premium in the context of your everyday household admin. Before you begin, think about what you want to organise, such as calendar dates or household documents, so you can assess whether the available features fit your needs.

What does Conquish Premium cost monthly or annually?

Conquish Premium costs R79 per month or R749 per year. Conquish also offers a 30 day free trial of Premium with no card required, so you can try it before deciding whether it suits your household admin. When considering the cost, look at the features you expect to use. Premium includes two-way sync with Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar, plus the ability to back up household documents to Google Drive.

Can Conquish sync with Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar?

Yes. Conquish syncs two-way with Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar on the Premium plan. For a household agreement, consider which agreed dates belong in your calendar, such as a review conversation or a planned moving-out discussion. Calendar entries can help you keep track of arrangements, but they do not replace agreement between housemates. Discuss any changed dates together and record the latest decision in your household agreement.

Can Conquish back up household documents to Google Drive?

Yes. Conquish can back up household documents to Google Drive on the Premium plan. When keeping a roommate agreement, use a clear file name and make the current version easy to identify. Decide together where everyone will find the agreed copy, and avoid including unnecessary identity or payment details. A document backup supports record-keeping; it does not replace discussing revisions or asking everyone to acknowledge changed arrangements.

Who processes payments for Conquish?

Payments for Conquish are processed by PayFast. Conquish Premium costs R79 per month or R749 per year. If you would like to try Premium before choosing a paid plan, Conquish offers a 30 day free trial with no card required. Keep your Conquish plan choice separate from the arrangements in your roommate agreement. Discuss whether a subscription is a personal expense or an agreed household cost before expecting anyone else to contribute.