What to Know About Security Deposits
Moving into your first apartment is exciting as it opens up a world of opportunities and puts you 100% in control of your living situation. You are leaving the security of home or college life and tasting true independence, which means you are responsible for furniture, groceries, rent, utilities, and everything else that comes with living on your own. But, like many young adults, you are probably sharing your apartment with a roommate. By now, you have probably selected a roommate, whether it’s a lifelong friend, college mate, or complete stranger you find from an online roommate search site. This time, it’s different because along with sharing space, both of you are sharing expenses and adjusting to a new lifestyle.
The key to living successfully with a roommate is communication. Before you sign the lease and move in, it’s important to hammer out how the household will be managed. Some issues to address include:
Lease
Both of your names should be on the lease. Most property management companies mandate that all residents of the apartment are on the lease, so they know who is living on their property and who the responsible parties are.
Rent and Utilities
You and your roommate may agree to split the rent and utilities evenly, or you may take turns. In some arrangements, one roommate will pay the electricity bill and the other the internet bill for one month, then trade-off the next month. Or you may assess the rent and utilities according to who has the largest bed or who uses the internet the most (such as one roommate who works from home and is online all day.) Be as creative as you like, just make sure it’s equitable.
Food and other household essentials
Again, you can agree to evenly divide the grocery bills, or each roommate pays for their own and you split the cost of common items such as condiments. Maybe one of you likes to cook and the other subsists on takeaway meals. In that case, you’ll divvy up the grocery bills accordingly.
Lifestyle
This is probably the main point that causes roommate relationships to go sour, even more so than finances. You will need to discuss work hours, sleeping hours, boy/girlfriends, entertainment, etc. If one roommate has a significant other who is at the apartment constantly, it may become annoying for the other roommate. Or perhaps one of you has a dog and the other roommate isn’t an animal lover.
The best way to navigate a new roommate situation is to write a roommate agreement. This document will cover all the above points and anything else you can think of. (You can find plenty of roommate agreements online.) Once the two of you negotiate the salient points and put it all in writing, sign it and follow it. It makes sense to periodically check in with your roommate and see if both parties are holding up their end of the agreement and make any necessary tweaks.
With planning and clear communication, you and your roommate can negotiate and navigate an agreement that will help you both save money and adjust to your new apartment life together harmoniously.
Explore a Vision Community Apartment
At Vision Communities, we welcome roommates! Your living experience should be a memorable one and finding a roommate to share your experience with is part of the journey. We have floor plans that provide your personal space and spacious common areas for you to hang out with your roommate and friends. Our spacious, studio, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, and 3 bedroom apartment layouts provide cozy space. Check out our luxurious apartment floorplans in one of our communities and enjoy life at the VC.
Schedule a tour today and see why Vision Communities is a great place to live.