Things to consider

Before agreeing to live with someone new, make sure you talk about policies of smoking, pets, drug use, weapons in the house and how bills will be split. These have ALL been issues for people in the past. If you have any doubts or arguments with roommates about money or rent before you move in, seriously consider NOT living with them. The problems only get worse.

Living in a house with a live-in landlord is not unheard of in Ithaca. They may be more strict about who comes over, what time you come home, how much electricity is used, etc than a normal landlord because after all it is their home. Some students are uncomfortable with this because its almost like having parents again. This is different than sharing the place with a roommate because you and your landlord do not have the same power.

Finding a Roommate

If you don't already have somebody in mind, roommates can be found via the following services:

Before You Become Roommates . . .

Choosing roommates may be the most important decision you will have to make as an off-campus resident. To make a more informed choice, you and your prospective roommates should sit down together and ask a lot of questions. By discussing important issues now, you may avoid problems later on. Explore your differences thoroughly and assess your tolerance of those differences. If you can't think of anything to ask, take a look at this list of suggested questions.

Most prospective roommates discuss basic questions like what type of housing and how many roommates they want, but it's important not to stop here. You might also gain considerable benefit from discussion of habits, preferences, and expectations. Be sure to define terms; what you mean by sometimes, quiet, clean, and so forth may have drastically different meanings from person to person. Remember to weigh compatibilities and conflicts carefully, and don't be afraid to say no when it comes to living with the person in question. Once you have selected your roommates, we suggest that you establish house rules immediately and WRITE them down. Sign your names and make a copy for each person.

Things For You To Consider

The Basics: before you start asking questions, ask yourself this

  • Do I want to live with persons of the same or opposite sex?
  • Do I want my own bedroom?
  • How many roommates would I be comfortable with?
  • How much can I pay for rent and utilities, and how many roommates will be necessary to fit my budget?

Things to Discuss with Prospective Roommates

Habits

  • Do you smoke? If not, how do you feel about living with someone who smokes?
  • How do you feel about alcohol/drug use in your household?
  • What degree of neatness and cleanliness is important to you?
  • Do you have a special diet or other special health requirements?
  • How much time do you spend at home?
  • Is energy conservation important to you?

Preferences

  • Do you prefer to study at home? If so, when are you most likely to study?
  • Are music/TV OK? If so, what kind of music, how often, and how loud? What noise level can you tolerate?
  • How often do you want to have friends visit? How early or late may they visit?
  • How do you feel about overnight guests, male and female? How many nights can they stay?
  • How often are boyfriends/girlfriends allowed to stay over? do they pay rent? How do you feel about them taking long showers together? How do you feel about them acting affectionately towards one another in shared spaces?
  • If you decide that boyfriend and girl friends are allowed in your place, is it acceptable for them to come over when the roommate they are associated with is not home?
  • Should frequent guests who eat at your home share the food/utility/rent costs?
  • Do you have/want a pet? What kind and how many?
  • Are you willing to allow a roommate to have a pet?
  • How much privacy do you need?
  • If the bathroom is shared amongst many people, do you mind people using it while you are taking a shower?
  • Are you willing to share personal items-supplies, stereo, clothing? Do you expect to be asked for permission to use them?
  • How social would you like to be with your roommates?
  • Are you comfortable with weapons in the house?

Expectations

  • Will we buy groceries together and split the bill or pay for, and prepare meals independently?
  • How will housekeeping responsibilities be divided? Split the chores 50/50? Take turns?
  • How will rent, utilities, groceries, and supplies be divided? Can you rely on each other to pay bills on time?
  • How will sublets be handled, will roommates be able to veto any potential subleters
  • If someone leaves and no subleter is found to take that persons place, will this person still be responsible for rent, cable, Internet, heat, and other utilities? This is important to discuss now, before it actually happens. Finding subleters over the summer is very difficult in Ithaca. Some argue that you shouldn't have to pay for things you don't use while your away. Others argue that they should not be stuck with a bill they rely on you to pay.
  • How will you handle complaints with the management? Will you take charge if there is a problem, take turns, or expect them to take charge?
  • How will you solve problems with each other? When I am upset about something that directly concerns my roommate, I will . . . When my roommate is upset about something that directly concerns me, I expect my roommate to . . .

If you decide to live together, realize that there will likely be issues. Your roommate cannot read your mind! Set a pattern of communicating and working together on common concerns. Make a commitment to continue to be open, honest, assertive, and considerate.

Cornell also provides a housemate compatibility questionnaire at http://offcampushousing.cornell.edu

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