| Shared Accommodation:
Pros, Cons, and Considerations
Sharing accommodation may make your shelter cost more affordable;
however, it can pose many problems. People in shared living
space must communicate about how they expect to live together.
Set out guidelines in advance to avoid any problems that might
occur. Talk about responsibilities for household chores, personal
property, keys and privacy. Discuss who will take care of
paying the rent, phone bills, utilities and other shared expenses.
How do your roommates view additional roommates, overnight
guests, smoking, food, drug and alcohol usage, will you share
an Internet connection and, what type, and quiet time? If
private space (such as bedrooms) are different in some way
(such as size or view), discuss who will take which one and
at what, if any, additional cost.
Beyond the need to respect each other's living area, at least
one roommate needs to assume some legal obligations. Someone
must take responsibility for damages to the property and for
paying the rent on time. Rights and responsibilities vary
somewhat across the country and they are defined in the provincial
and territorial laws that apply to landlords and tenants.
Usually the person or persons who sign(s) the lease or make(s)
a verbal agreement with the landlord become legally responsible
for the actions of the other roommates. If two or more tenants
are on (i.e. sign) the same lease each is responsible for
the whole rent. The guarantor's liability will depend on the
agreement with the landlord. Likewise the renter listed on
the utility and telephone bills must ensure payment.
Remember, you will be responsible for your roommates' actions
if they are not on (i.e. have not signed) the lease. If each
of you holds separate leases, you are only responsible for
what is in your written agreement. If you both sign the same
lease, you are both equally responsible and the landlord can
choose to enforce the lease terms against either, or both
of you.
Your Name, Your Bill
Is yours the only name on the phone bill, utility bill, or
lease? If it is, try to avoid letting your credit rating suffer
because your roommates fail to pay their share of the rent
and bills.
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