Suggested Questions for Roommates

Expectations when looking for an apartment together

• What is your budget?
• If rent or utilities must be paid with a single check, how will you manage this? What happens if someone is late with a payment?
• If an apartment has rooms of different sizes, or if some people share a bedroom while others have individual rooms, how will the rent be divided?
• How far or close to campus do you want to be?
• Do you have a car or need parking?
• Is it important to you that you have your own bedroom and bathroom, or are you comfortable sharing?
• How important is household and personal security to you? Do you lock the doors while at home?

Habits & beliefs

• How important is a clean household? How frequently do you expect your roommate to participate in household cleaning?
• Are you okay with personal property being left in common areas?
• What are your expectations of noise? Are you a night owl or an early bird?
• Are political or religious outlooks important to you?
• What are your thoughts on clothing in common areas? Are you comfortable with your roommate being in common areas, wearing only underwear or a towel? What about guests?

Eating, drinking & smoking

• Do you have dietary restrictions or preferences? Do those restrictions or preferences limit how food is stored or consumed?
• Is smoking an issue? Are certain areas off limits or designated for smoking?
• What are your views on alcohol?

Guests

• What do you believe is a reasonable limit on guests visiting and/or staying over?
• Are there people (family members, significant other, friends) you expect will be stopping by frequently or for an extended period of time? How often?
• If the apartment allows pets, would you be comfortable if one of your roommates brought a pet(s)? What kinds of pets and how many?

Relationship

• What type of relationship are you looking for with your new roommate? Are you looking for someone to hang out with or someone to share the bills with?
• Would you like to share household consumables or keep everything separate?
• Would we share possessions like a television, cookware, or furniture? If so, what would the policy be for sharing these items?
• If we were to disagree on something, what do you think is a good way to work through conflict?

Starting Your Search

Looking for a roommate? Create a profile on the Off-Campus Roommate Finder to connect with others seeking off-campus housing. You can indicate whether you already have a place or need one, and specify your living and social preferences, timeline, price range, and more.