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Everything you need to know about finding — and living with — roommates
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If you're moving to New York and plan to live with roommates, we've got your back. Brick has covered the issue of co-habitation extensively — from finding them to kicking them out. Here's a sampling of roommate-related stories that should help make the entire process a whole lot smoother:
Step 1: Find the right roommate
- 20 questions: What to ask potential roommates to prove you're compatible. Among them: How often do you clean? What time do you go to bed?
- Should you live with a stranger or a friend? The age-old conundrum, solved.
- Avoid the freaks on Craigslist. The online listings juggernaut has something of a bad rap, but it's still a decent way to find a roommate—provided you follow some simple steps.
- But there other options, too. Check out roommate-centric websites beyond Craigslist.
- Five roommates to avoid. Among them: The couple, the pet owner and the telecommuter.
- Want to know how many roommates you'll need based on your college major? There's a map for that.
- Don't move in with your significant other too soon. And make sure you're able to talk openly and candidly about money.
Step 2: Rent the apartment (note, sometimes this is step 1)
- Renting a NYC apartment with roommates. Our go-to guide for locking down a place when multiple agendas are involved.
- Secrets behind the perfect share. Respect is still the golden rule, but opposite schedules help—a lot.
- Why you should bring your roommate with you to find your apartment. It may be tempting to divide and conquer when it comes to touring apartments, but you're asking for trouble.
- A new trend in roommate-living: The office share-style apartment where the landlord/lease holder takes care of common spaces and you rent out the (small) bedrooms.
Step 3: Live in harmony
- 8 classic roommate dilemmas solved, including whose name goes on the lease, how to deal with guarantors and more.
- Split the expenses fairly with your phone. Here are six apps that will make divvying up the bills, the rent and toilet paper purchases that much easier.
- 3 simple rules for splitting the rent — no matter how strange the apartment layout. Down the middle is not always the way to go.
- You can add a roommate to your insurance policy for free. It's a no-brainer, people.
- Noise-cancelling headphones, a chore board and a shower caddy. These things — and 7 more — will help roommate situations stay peaceful.
- On apartment shares, leases and dominance. One person's story of living with roommates, from putting names on the lease to navigating the decor.
- Signing a roommate prenup. It's not just for fiancees: A written agreement is a good idea for anyone sharing a roof.
- For renters with roomies, an affordable soundproofing tactic. No those are not oxymorons.
- Don't sleep with your roommate, and other tips for co-ed shares.
- How to split the cost of furniture with your roommates. Hint: There are several strategies.
When things go awry:
- Be honest, stay sober, and give them financial incentive to leave: Tips for kicking a roommmate out sans drama.
- Bad news if your roommate stops paying rent and you're the one with the guarantor. Small claims court might be an option.
- If your roommate has sex too loudly. The path of least resistance involves ear plugs and a white noise machine. But honesty might be best.
- How to win the toilet paper wars. It's all about communication (And not by email).
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