To have a successful group tenancy, it is important that everyone get together and discuss every aspect of living together, especially where there might be differences of opinion.

Before signing a lease, have an honest and frank discussion on your expected living arrangement. Be sure to discuss the topics listed below:

• Roommate/Co-Tenant Agreement: You can write up your own Roommate/Co-Tenant Agreement. We do provide a sample Roommate/Co-Tenant agreement. All tenants should sign the agreement, receive a copy of it, and abide by it. The purpose of this document is to help you to have a group living experience that is free of discord and unpleasant surprises. In the worst case, such a document can have legal value if serious violations occur and a visit to court is required.
• Division of Rent: Establish who will occupy specific bedrooms and how the rent will be split per person.
• Purchase of Food for Individual & Communal Consumption: Discuss how food will be purchased and prepared if this will be a group activity. For example, fix the amount each housemate will pay for food and decide how often food will be purchased. Housemates should also agree if they will shop together or separately. If food will be purchased individually, define areas for each person's food and a policy for consuming other people's food.
• Managing Utilities: Decide who will be responsible for the payment of utilities, phone and cable bills. Keep in mind that in order for these services to be provided, someone must assume responsibility to the companies selling these services. It is recommended each tenant be in charge of a certain utility, rather than one person having his or her name on all the utility accounts.
• Purchase of household supplies and furniture. Draw up a list of household necessities and the amount each person will pay. There should be a provision made in advance for reimbursement and distribution if someone moves out or occupancy ends.
• Cleaning: Make a schedule that distributes jobs fairly and equally to everyone. List each main job and describe what needs to be done for that job. Figure out how often each job must be done.The schedule should be reviewed by your group and approved by every member. You may want to consider a schedule that rotates the different chores.
• Respect for Personal Property: Agree on the usage or nonusage of individual property even "trivial" items such as shampoo and hairspray. Agree on remedies when individual property is missing or damaged and the responsible party cannot be determined.
• Create a policy for entertaining guests: Discuss whether fellow tenants may have overnight guests and how long guests may stay. As a courtesy to housemates and neighbors, be sure to set rules for your guests - especially when alcohol will be consumed. Discuss appropriate behavior and acceptable noise levels with your housemates and their guests. Also, be aware that local ordinances prohibit high levels of noise, underage drinking and disorderly conduct. Tenants can face hefty fines and even jail time for violations of such laws.
• Consider the Possibility of Fellow Tenants Leaving: Even if you discussed your desires and expectations before you moved into your rental, housemates may still decide to move out. Everyone should talk about this possibility before moving in. Decide who will be responsible for finding a new tenant. Remaining housemates may feel they should have the right of filling the vacancy since they will be living with the new tenant. On the other hand, they may feel that the person moving out should bear the responsibility of finding a new tenant. Tenants should also keep in mind their lease agreement, since some landlords forbid subletting.

You may think all of these precautions unnecessary among friends, but you should never assume anything about a person with whom you share a rental. Co-tenants may think nothing of using your soap without permission or playing loud music at 2:00 a.m. Having a frank and honest discussion of everyone's standards and expectations before moving in will help to insure a pleasant living situation.