The Missouri roommate agreement (“room rental agreement”) is a legal document that lays out the terms and conditions associated with sharing a rental property. Each co-tenant must sign the contract, thereby agreeing to the financial obligations and social expectations of inhabiting the property.
What to Include in a Missouri Roommate Agreement
- The term of the lease. This means that the first date on the document will be when the lease begins, and the lease end date should be added as well. Sometimes, leases cannot be renewed, and if this is the case, it needs to be clearly stated at the beginning of the agreement.
- The names of all involved roommates. This section should include existing tenants as well as provide space for add-on roommates.
- The physical address of the unit.
- The allotted rental payments for each roommate. It’s important to note that some lease agreements split the cost of rent based on the amount of space each roommate is using. If this is the case, the precise amount paid for the living space will need to be clearly stated.
- The value of the security deposit, as well as each roommate’s portion of this fee. Additionally, Missouri policies when it comes to security deposits, including allowable return periods and deductions based on damage should be mentioned.
- The utilities in the unit, the split amongst roommates, and who will make payments will need to be established.
- The signed and printed names of the roommates as well as the date of the document. Extra spaces should be provided for add-on roommates.
Roommate’s Rights in Missouri
When it comes to roommate rights in Missouri, borders or roommates are actually granted a similar level of rights to those that have signed a written lease. For this reason, it’s relatively hard to evict a roommate in this state and to do so, the renter will have to get a court order. Additionally, a roommate agreement that has been signed by the applicable roommates will also provide certain rights such as the right to take a landlord to court if there is an unsafe living environment in the unit. These arrangements also are more legally binding in certain situations than others. For example, the assignment of household chores may not be something that is addressable in court, but the roommates not paying their agreed-upon share of the rent is.
