Apartment with a roommate what kind of questions to ask?

[roseofblack25]

I have so far been looking at apartments on my own but it would be really tight for me to afford them on a student budget. I started looking for people that wanted roommates and signed up for a few roommate websites. I think I have found a nice place in a sort of new condo with someone my age. The move in date isn't until summer so I have time to set up a viewing and take care of everything. I'm trying to compile a list of questions to ask when I go to look at the place. I have never done this before so are there any specific questions I should be asking when I meet and view the space?

So far I have only thought of asking if all utilities are included in the rent price, and if internet and cable is in with the rent or a separate expense.

[heinz]

ask about friends staying over

[Retiree]

If you are seriously cosidering the place and the room mate, ask about grocery shopping........will you each do your own?..........will you share in the cost of food? Ask about the sharing of household tasks. Ask if you will have a lock on your own bedroom door. Ask about laundry facilities........are they in suite or will you need to go out to do laundry.

[roseofblack25]

ask about friends staying over

Yes! Good one that I would have forgotten about. I need to ask about friends/bf coming over and spending the night sort of thing. I'm hoping it's not a huge deal because the potential roommate is around the same age as I am.

Another I thought of too after I posted this was about groceries. If it's buy your own or shared. I'm hoping most places it's buy your own because I'm selective in what I eat and go through phases

[MrsSunshine]

do they snore? are they neat and tidy? do they have any allergies? do they have alot of friends? do they stay up late? are they early risers? do they partake of 'substances'.
believe it or not some of these answers can make the difference between a great relationship between roomates and one that won't last long at all. if your too shy to ask. you might learn the hard way you really should have asked.

[roseofblack25]

If you are seriously cosidering the place and the room mate, ask about grocery shopping........will you each do your own?..........will you share in the cost of food? Ask about the sharing of household tasks. Ask if you will have a lock on your own bedroom door. Ask about laundry facilities........are they in suite or will you need to go out to do laundry.

Never thought of locking doors. Is this a normal thing for roommates and is it something I should ask for if there are no locks on the door?
I don't think my sisters place has locks and she lives with 5 other people!

I know since it's a condo there is ensuite laundry that was listed in the description of the place. That's one of the main reasons I am looking at newer condos and not apartment buildings because it's costly to do laundry in an apartment or laundromat.

[roseofblack25]

do they snore? are they neat and tidy? do they have any allergies? do they have alot of friends? do they stay up late? are they early risers? do they partake of 'substances'.
believe it or not some of these answers can make the difference between a great relationship between roomates and one that won't last long at all. if your too shy to ask. you might learn the hard way you really should have asked.

I am used to snoring because my dad can be heard all the way in the living room at night!
Cleanliness will definitely be something I check out when I look at the place. If the kitchen/bathroom is filthy that's a total deal breaker! I'm a very clean person and can't stand dirty dishes and a gross bathtub.


I never thought of asking about allergies so that goes on my list. Same with asking about their schedule and possible substance use. I would hope that I wouldn't have to ask that question but it's true you never know what they might like to do in their spare time.

[gourmetsue]

Just wanted to say good luck! I shared a house with 4 other girls and one of their sons when I first moved to TO. I found them on the net and almost 12 years later we are still friends.

[roseofblack25]

Just wanted to say good luck! I shared a house with 4 other girls and one of their sons when I first moved to TO. I found them on the net and almost 12 years later we are still friends.

That's encouraging! I'm trying to move to TO! Well I have to for my last year of school because I have a few classes that I can't take online, so I need to be there by September! I really didn't want to live with anyone, I wanted to be on my own in my own place so I didn't have to worry about all this stuff. It's completely not doable though with the way things are priced there.
I was told at my bank appointment that I was in a good position to put a down payment on a place, but that I need income first before I would even be able to put in offers. I'm hoping I don't have to rent for long, maybe a year or two and then find a place of my own. I don't like the thought of buying a place until I know I have a job that will be fairly permanent, and have steady income and less school though the bank is encouraging it now because of low interest. I'm a completely independent person that likes my own space so hopefully this works out with a roommate! My sister manages with 2 guys and 2 other girls in a 5 bedroom 2 bathroom place so I think I should be fine with a 2 bedroom 1 bathroom place and two people.

[freefreefree]

ask about pets

[tjthemanto]

Are you officially going to be on the lease as a joint tenant or is the person already renting the condo & you are just going to just move in as a room mate ( unofficially ) ?

If the room mate stops paying the rent and takes off or something ..you could be on the hook for the entire rent if you are officially on the lease .

[Jasminenicole]

Ask to get together with the potential roommate first, go out for coffee or lunch to get to know each other. Keep it casual and you will be able to get a good feel for the other person and pin point similarities between you.

I shared and apartment with 3 other girls, only one of them I was friends with the other two girls where not nice people.

[ING_rep]

I would suggest that you put the lease to your name and have something signed by your roommate to make sure he/she pays half the rent to you. It protects you in case it's not working with this person, the lease is under your name so you won't lose the condo, and you can get a new roommate.

At the condo visit, I would ask about the annual cost of electricity, i would ask about the neighbors and if anything is included (appliances?)

Good luck!

[Ciel]

Does the monthly rent cover the condo/maintenance fees? What happens if the condo board approves a hike in them or one-time charge to all condo owners--would you be on the hook to pay half of the fees or are they the owner's concern?

About name on the lease-in case there is a dispute about who is allowed in a unit (I'm assuming it could be like in an apt. building where cohabitants don't like friends of their roommates in the unit can fuss with the super who will look at rental agreement and go by names on it), having your name on document ensures you are recognized as being able to stay in unit. If your friends are not liked, roomie could make an issue that only roomies can be in the unit. Owner of unit might have some preferences on how to keep his/her investment safe yet ensure renters are named on document to safeguard monthly rental income.

The other non-condo idea--if you can find a family home with a separate entrance apartment, it may be a situation that better suits your budget in the interim. I know of two people (singles) who had rented basement units from older couples and got the benefit of some free meals with owners and chat (you know, the two generations talk about their perspectives and share news). Kind of nice for people who may be new to the city and have someone interested in their day.

I think you'd want to know what roommate's connection is to the owner-if they are relatives, perhaps you'd want to meet the owner to find how reasonable or biased s/he is. Some people automatically support kin, even if they are idiots. You don't want to suddenly hear, oh the owner want his/her immediate family member to move in so you have to leave.

[Sunshyne1]

The post about the "locking doors". Now if i was moving in with someone I already knew and was already friends with, I wouldn't be concerned about locking my door.
But in your circumstance you have no idea who these people are or what they would get up to while you are out of the house. I would feel much better if i had a lock on my door if I didn't know the people.
Have you tried looking for a bachelor apartment? They are generally much cheaper, but you may be on the hook for Heat/hydro/cable etc.