Roommates and overnight guests

A common concern we hear from homeowners is that their roommate's partner spends too much time at the property. Overnight guests are a pretty common request from roommates, especially if they have a partner. It's important to establish clear rules from the beginning and communicate openly to prevent issues. Try and compromise in these situations so you can find a solution that works for both of you.

Be open with each other

Speak to your roommate to understand their expectations; this will hopefully make sure you're both on the same page from the word go. Discuss the frequency and duration of overnight guests and any concerns or restrictions that you have.

Discuss additional costs

One of the main reasons homeowners worry about overnight guests is additional costs, especially when energy prices are so high. Mention this concern to your roommate and hopefully, you can reach an agreement on how to handle these extra costs.

Overnight guest rule

One solution could be to implement an ‘overnight guests rule’. This basically means your roommate's partner can stay over as many nights a week as your roommate stays at theirs – meaning the maximum number of nights they can have their partner stay in a week is three. If this does happen, they’ll also be at their partner’s for three nights – giving you the place to yourself.

Get it in writing

Once you’ve reached an understanding, include any house rules in your roommate agreement. This gets rules formalized in writing and gives you a basis for reference if anything goes wrong.

Ultimately, respect and open communication from both sides are the most important way to achieve a harmonious living environment.