Renter’s Advice and Resources

Living alone certainly has its perks — watching anything you like on Netflix, the ability to keep food that only you love in the fridge, and being as loud as you like at any time of the day, to name a few — but one of its main drawbacks is the fact that all the […]

When we move out of our parents’ house, we usually either start out in a dorm room or in an apartment with a couple of roommates. But as we get older and move up in our jobs (and therefore in our salary range), the idea of living alone becomes increasingly appealing.

Having a roommate can be beneficial in many ways. For one thing, they help you out with the rent each month, but they also provide companionship, someone to talk about your day with, and an automatic Netflix buddy. If you’re not quite ready to live alone or you can’t afford to, having a roommate is […]

If you like animals but aren’t ready for the responsibility of owning your own pet yet, having a pet owner for a roommate can seem like a great deal. You benefit from many of the perks of having a pet with a fraction of the responsibility. Of course, things don’t always go smoothly. Your stuff is just as vulnerable as your roommate’s is to cat scratches and stains from dog urine. If your roommate’s hamster escapes its cage, it becomes your problem as well. When you agree to live with someone who has a pet, it’s best to figure out where to draw the line of responsibility before things go wrong.

You put your key in the door, rest your hand on the knob and let out a deep sigh before entering. You know that your roommate is lurking somewhere in the darkness with a snide remark that insinuates a bone they have to pick with you, without actually picking it with you. Sharing your space […]

Sharing the TV is a fact of life when you live with a roommate. Just like everything else in your apartment that needs to be shared (the shower, the kitchen, the washer and dryer), you and your roommate have to figure out a way to schedule TV use that works with both of your needs. […]

Seeing your roommate naked is one of those uncomfortable situations that no one ever wants to encounter. Awkward as it is, if it happens you shouldn’t freak out. Situations are best remedied by acting maturely. So whether you forgot to knock or came home early to an unprepared unclothed roommate, here’s what you should do. […]

You can’t ignore noise complaints against your roommate, especially very loud noise all night during a party, because it may come back to haunt you. Even if you’ve learned to deal with it, your neighbors may not appreciate an interruption of their rights to enjoy a quiet and peaceful environment in their apartments. When they’ve […]

Paying for apartment utilities have been the cause of many conflicts and roommate splits. Many fights can be avoided in the first place, with a well thought out and negotiated roommate agreement. Even then, there are roommates who breach contracts, and refuse to pay for the utilities they agreed to pay for. It’s a touchy […]