Living with roommates can be a lot of fun, but it can also come with its own set of challenges. One of those challenges is figuring out how to deal with damages to the rental property caused by one or more roommates. Fortunately, there is a solution: the roommate damage agreement.
A roommate damage agreement is a document that outlines how roommates will handle damages to the rental property. It usually includes information about who is responsible for damages, how damages will be repaired, and how the cost of repairs will be divided among roommates.
Here are a few key things to keep in mind when creating a roommate damage agreement:
1. Determine who is responsible for damages
The first step in creating a roommate damage agreement is to determine who is responsible for damages. While it may be tempting to assign responsibility to the person who actually caused the damage, this can be tricky. It is often better to assign responsibility based on the location of the damage. For example, if a roommate damages the living room, all roommates may be responsible for the repair costs.
2. Decide how damages will be repaired
Once responsibility has been assigned, it`s important to decide how damages will be repaired. Will roommates take care of repairs themselves, or will they hire a professional? If roommates decide to handle repairs themselves, they should agree on a timeline for completing repairs.
3. Determine how the cost of repairs will be divided
Finally, roommates should determine how the cost of repairs will be divided. In most cases, roommates will split the cost evenly. However, if one roommate caused significant damage, they may agree to pay a greater portion of the repair costs.
Creating a roommate damage agreement may seem like a hassle, but it can be a valuable tool for ensuring that everyone is on the same page when it comes to dealing with damages to the rental property. By taking the time to create an agreement, roommates can avoid misunderstandings and disagreements in the future.