housemates

[sumstorm]

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I am planning to buy a house, and should have room for 1-3 housemates, but I have never had/dealt with housemates (tenents, roommate, yes.)

How do you set it up to prevent problems later on? I am open to all advice and suggestions. Also, is there a need to go very formal with legal contracts or not?

I would really prefer another vet student, but there are enough other schools in the area that I could have a grad or undergrad student.

Also, how did you manage common areas, pets, security, and any damages?

Thanks!

 

[bunnity]

I would definitely go with a legal contract sumstorm - at least a notarized agreement. I've had roommates that were there unofficially (not on the lease) walk out and it screws everyone over. No matter how reliable they seem I would really recommend it.

 

[ZooNose]

How do you set it up to prevent problems later on? I am open to all advice and suggestions. Also, is there a need to go very formal with legal contracts or not?
quote]

Many cities have rental and sublease-specific contracts on their government websites (DC does at least) that you can print and use as the lease for your tenants. Not only will it give you peace of mind, but it will give your tenants peace of mind as well (because it is a set length of time and they know they have a secure place to live - speaking as a tenant!). If your city does not, I'm sure there are downloadable leases on the internet? 👍

 

[DollyyLlama]

the landlord/tenant relationship is so adversarial by nature.. even in the kind of situation you're talking about.. i wonder how it could be balanced with friendship/ keeping the peace. i'm a bit of a pessimist, but my mind goes right to possible conflicts..

 

[twelvetigers]

I'm not really comfortable with the idea of having someone live with me, my husband, and my pets.. and my kitchen appliances...

We might have considered it (3 BR home right now) but we didn't even get that far since we only have 1 1/2 bathrooms and sharing a shower/toilet in our home is kind of a dealbreaker.

I have a friend that lives in a house owned by her parents - they rent out rooms and the tenants have to sign a 1 year lease just like any other place in a college town. She's had good luck and bad with roomies, but the lease keeps everything legal and ensures that no money is lost.

 

[InfiniVet]

If you really want another vet student to live with, I strongly suggest he/she not be in your class

 

[CatVet2Be]

If you really want another vet student to live with, I strongly suggest he/she not be in your class

Why is that? I was thinking having a current student rooming with you would make things easier, same schedule, carpooling, stressed over exams at the same time so everyone is in study mode etc...

 

[sumstorm]

the landlord/tenant relationship is so adversarial by nature.. even in the kind of situation you're talking about.. i wonder how it could be balanced with friendship/ keeping the peace. i'm a bit of a pessimist, but my mind goes right to possible conflicts..

Really? I have never considered in adversarial by nature, though I do know how easily conflicts can arise, which was why I was hoping to do prep work to facilitate clear communications and expectations from the beginning.

I don't care about actual friendship....I would prefer mutual respect. I do think it is possible for two (or three) adults to live together peacefully (at least, it was possible when I lived in other countries.)

I have been contemplating things like SO's, visitors, common area usage, cleaning, noise, pets, yard work (especially with pets), etc.

I do think it takes early preperation to do it...but I don't think it has to be friendship or enemies. At least I hope not. The house we are negotiating on is lovely and in a nice place. If we could find a cheaper place that was safe, we would likely not even consider a roommate.

 

[sumstorm]

I'm not really comfortable with the idea of having someone live with me, my husband, and my pets.. and my kitchen appliances...

We might have considered it (3 BR home right now) but we didn't even get that far since we only have 1 1/2 bathrooms and sharing a shower/toilet in our home is kind of a dealbreaker.

I have a friend that lives in a house owned by her parents - they rent out rooms and the tenants have to sign a 1 year lease just like any other place in a college town. She's had good luck and bad with roomies, but the lease keeps everything legal and ensures that no money is lost.

My husband won't be living with me! His work is 4 hours away, so not a realistic option. We will visit on an occasional weekend (we are use to it.) The place I am looking at has the MB on the ground floor with 2 rooms on the second floor, a bathroom on the ground floor and one on the 2nd floor...so if I found one roommate, it would be possible for us each to have our own bathroom and only share the foyer, living room, kitchen/dining room, patio/yard.

 

[twelvetigers]

Ah, well that's a bit different. I would still put the KitchenAid mixer under lock and key, but I'm mean like that.

 

[bunnyslippers]

AHHH, wrong thread! Sorry.

 

[Angelo84]

Why is that? I was thinking having a current student rooming with you would make things easier, same schedule, carpooling, stressed over exams at the same time so everyone is in study mode etc...

I strongly agree with living with a vet student not in your class. You will be with the people in your class everyday all day. It is really nice to come home to someone you haven't spent the day with. Also if you live with a second year they can give helpful advice on preparing for exams. And can sometimes help explain things that you aren't understanding. Living with a third or fourth year student has similar advantages but they might not remember the intricacies of what vitamins are needed where in the kreb cycle.

 

[eatpinkpenguins]

I strongly agree with living with a vet student not in your class. You will be with the people in your class everyday all day. It is really nice to come home to someone you haven't spent the day with. Also if you live with a second year they can give helpful advice on preparing for exams. And can sometimes help explain things that you aren't understanding. Living with a third or fourth year student has similar advantages but they might not remember the intricacies of what vitamins are needed where in the kreb cycle.

Oh crap. I decided last week to live with 2 girls from my class that I never met. I don't mind if we aren't bff, but I hope they are considerate. But they look normal on facebook...I hope it all works out

 

[IvyLynx]

I think a considerate member of a different class would be a good idea. I have only had one roommate (exclduing my SO and a friend for a summer). It was by committee selection. She ended up being one of my closest friends! In general, friends don't make good roommates.

 

[DVMorBust]

Not sure if it's feasible in the NCSU area, but around here there are a TON of duplexes...buying one of those to fix up, while renting out hte other half, could be a compromise. Two years into school, you switch to the other half and fix that up...I know quite a few people who have had luck with this type of setup. But then, there are more duplexes than single homes around the university neighborhood.

 

[sumstorm]

Not sure if it's feasible in the NCSU area, but around here there are a TON of duplexes...buying one of those to fix up, while renting out hte other half, could be a compromise. Two years into school, you switch to the other half and fix that up...I know quite a few people who have had luck with this type of setup. But then, there are more duplexes than single homes around the university neighborhood.

Actually, even run down duplexes are going for as much as our Charlotte B&B property. We can't handle another mortgage in that high of a range. We were hoping REO, but the ones that are available have major structural damage, significant water damage with large amounts of mold present.

All the properties I have looked at are either rooms upstairs with common areas downstairs and MB downstairs OR rooms throughout the ground floor off of common areas, each with own bathroom.

There are duplexes, but the ones for sale are few and far between. Also, the rent for a duplex doens't compare well to the mortgage costs and it won't qualify for owner occupied financing because it is considered investment property.

 

[flyhi]

the landlord/tenant relationship is so adversarial by nature.. even in the kind of situation you're talking about.. i wonder how it could be balanced with friendship/ keeping the peace. i'm a bit of a pessimist, but my mind goes right to possible conflicts..

it is a business relationship, not a friendship at that point and usually makes it easier, not more difficult to remain friends. When both parties agree to legally to terms, the expectations are set and there is no room for 'oh, i didn't know you needed 30 days notice, i didn't mean to ruin the drain in the kitchen sink by pouring oil down it, i thought my dog was housetrained, etc)

A lease agreement (just like anyone would sign if they rented an apartment) is highly recommended with deposits and all.

 

[sumstorm]

it is a business relationship, not a friendship at that point and usually makes it easier, not more difficult to remain friends. When both parties agree to legally to terms, the expectations are set and there is no room for 'oh, i didn't know you needed 30 days notice, i didn't mean to ruin the drain in the kitchen sink by pouring oil down it, i thought my dog was housetrained, etc)

A lease agreement (just like anyone would sign if they rented an apartment) is highly recommended with deposits and all.

On top of a lease agreement, I was actuall thinking of having a mutual living agreement that spelled things out like crating or kenneling dogs when not present, limiting cleaning supplies that can be used in the house (and providing those), setting quiet hours and notice of overnight visitors (actually, the HOA rules limit visitors to one week as well) and defining parking rules, common area rules, etc. I realize those aren't legally enforcable...but it is hard to say 'I didn't know' when you initialed next to it.

Hubby and I talked about the need to put stain protection down on all the carpets already.

 

[flyhi]

On top of a lease agreement, I was actuall thinking of having a mutual living agreement that spelled things out like crating or kenneling dogs when not present, limiting cleaning supplies that can be used in the house (and providing those), setting quiet hours and notice of overnight visitors (actually, the HOA rules limit visitors to one week as well) and defining parking rules, common area rules, etc. I realize those aren't legally enforcable...but it is hard to say 'I didn't know' when you initialed next to it.

Hubby and I talked about the need to put stain protection down on all the carpets already.

i think those are fabulous ideas. It's like the rules/regulations you would encounter in a dorm room situation.

ps. the more i have thought about this, sumstorm, the more i think it is genius. you will attract all of those types (like me) who really do not want to be in a housemate situation, but might have to. My biggest fear would be living with so many different types that i could not deal with (disrespectful, unsanitary, loud, having friends/SO's over all the time, etc, etc), but with rules that are discussed and understood with all housemates, you are likely to get the cream of the crop. You will most likely get the perfect housemates because of your requirements. Oh, i'm excited for you and can't wait to see how it goes. You could even formulate a housemate questionnaire like they do for the dorms and determine the best fit - night owls-early birds, non-smokers-smokers, social drinkers-non drinkers, studying with background noise-those that need complete quiet......