Room Rental Agreement

A Room Rental Agreement is a legally binding document between a tenant and a sub-tenant to rent a particular room. It outlines the responsibilities and expectations of both parties.

Too many people simply let someone move in without a formal agreement. When a dispute arises, they need a document that outlines what they agreed to. 

Use a room rental agreement to avoid legal battles and difficulties evicting sub-tenants.

Table of Contents

• What is a Room Rental Agreement?
• Why Do You Need a Room Rental Agreement?
• When Do You Use a Room Rental Agreement?
• What to Include in a Room Rental Agreement?

What is a Room Rental Agreement?

A room rental agreement is like a lease agreement, but it is between the tenant and a sub-tenant. The document outlines all expectations for the renter and the sub-renter.

Sometimes referred to as a sublease, a room rental agreement allows tenants to sublet a room in their leased property to a third party.

While most subleases are for tenants who want to rent their entire property to a third party, a room rental agreement is for renters who wish to lease out only a room in their dwelling.

This usually requires a landlord’s approval of the subleased room, so a professional landlord should require approval for subletting (the entire property or a room) in the original lease.

A room rental agreement is different than a roommate agreement. A roommate agreement outlines terms and conditions tenants agree to when sharing a living space, such as cleaning duties, quiet times, and utility splits. 

These terms are independent of the original lease agreement.

Why Do You Need a Room Rental Agreement?

You need a room rental agreement whenever your tenant wants to sublease a room in their home, apartment, or other leased dwelling unit to another tenant. 

This clarifies the parties’ expectations, responsibilities, and obligations, giving the subtenant a better understanding of lease terms (which the original tenant is still responsible for).

You should ensure everything in writing to protect your rights as a landlord, including approval for tenants to sublease a room in their rental. 

However, do it simply. Use our room rental agreement designed for professional landlords and create a customized form for your property with our easy-to-use document builder.

When Do You Use a Room Rental Agreement?

You can use a room rental agreement whenever you want to allow a tenant to sublease a room in their apartment to a subtenant. This may include situations like:

• Your tenant wants to sublease one or more rooms to another tenant
• A tenant has a boyfriend or girlfriend who constantly stays over and should be a tenant on the property
• You want to ensure consistent standards between tenants and sub-tenants

What to Include in a Room Rental Agreement?

A good room rental agreement will include many of the following elements:

• Term: The dates the room rental agreement will begin and end.
• Tenant Identification: This will include the identifying details and contact information of each party to the room rental agreement
• Address: The address of the apartment, house, or other premises the sub-tenant will lease.
• Rent: This will include the amount of rent and any security deposit each tenant must pay.
• Utilities Information: This describes how the tenants will divide any utilities.
• Duties and Obligations: The agreement should outline each tenant’s basic responsibilities, household chores, and obligations under the contract.
• Renter’s Insurance: The agreement should include whether renter’s insurance is required.
• Parking: Where the tenants can park and how many cars are permitted to visit is vital information.
• Damages: This outlines each tenant’s liability for damages caused by them or their guests. It may also allocate costs when the cause is unknown.
• Smoking and Alcohol Rules: This will include whether smoking or drinking is allowed and related issues.
• Pet Permissions: The agreement should state whether the sub-tenant is permitted to have pets on the premises.