Duplex house hack. How do I get a roommate?

Question

Marcia Maynard · Answer

You own the duplex, live on one side and are considering renting out one of the rooms in your 2bed/1bath unit, right?

Finding a compatible roommate who will be living with you is a different process than finding a tenant for a separate unit. I did this years ago when I lived in a 4 bedroom house in Seattle, shared by four people.

I didn't advertise to the public, instead I spread the word at my work place and through my social networks. I also found great housemates through the graduate school program bulletin boards at a local university.

I created an information sheet (or flyer) about the property and what it had to offer, including details about rent and utilities.

I started with having in mind the type of housemate I wanted. It was helpful if they shared interests similar to mine. But most important was for us to have similar values.  Integrity was top on that list. As well as a commitment to open and honest communication and good interpersonal skills.

We, as a group, set the house rules and kept each other accountable. As well as being a housemate, I had the role as house manager (my name was on the lease and I subletted to the others with the house owner's permission). As the owner, you will be in the lead role.

Some things that quickly surfaced:

1. Not everyone has the same idea of what "clean" means, so clarify that.

2. Some people think all food in the house is fair game, so it's best to designate specific cupboard space and refrigerator space for each individual as well as a space for shared food/spices.

3. Some people like to "root" and create a significant presence in the home, decorating, etc. Others are minimalists and don't put much into their living space. With a four bedroom house, I realized I could only have a maximum of two people who set down roots (myself included).

4. Do some kind of background check. You don't want to find yourself under the same roof with a sociopath. But it doesn't need to be as extensive as when you rent out to the general public.

5. Create a written rental agreement with clear terms and modify it as necessary along the way. Month-to-month is best. Remember, if the tenancy goes south and you need to do an eviction, the agreement needs to be good enough to use in court. In most jurisdictions, your housemate will have rights of tenancy that you must uphold. Be sure you are clear about that.

6. Since you are sharing the same residence, you will have more control on who you decide you want to live with and housing non-discrimination laws will not apply.

7. Determine your real costs and what you think is a fair amount for rent and utilities. Compare this with what the market in your area will bear. Everything's negotiable.

Good luck!

Susan K. · Answer

Make sure you figure out a way utilities are split fairly so you are not defeating the purpose of having someone in your personal space.   Some people like to run the A/C at 72 and take 40 minute showers.  Just make sure you charge enough too make it worth what you are giving up.  If you have already been living there by yourself review what you pay for 1 person so at least you will know how it will be increasing when you add the roommate.