California Roommate Agreement

California Roommate Agreement

Before signing: Attach the complete owner lease and document any required approval. Select the parties' actual lease status below. Check applicable local and housing-program rules and give any required owner or subtenancy disclosures.

This Agreement is made [__/__/____] for the dwelling at [STREET, UNIT, CITY, CA ZIP]. Owner or primary landlord: [NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE]. The complete owner lease dated [__/__/____], amendments, and rules are Exhibit A. Its term ends [__/__/____ / MONTH TO MONTH].

Select the arrangement: ☐ All signing roommates are co-tenants on the owner lease; this Agreement allocates obligations among them only. ☐ [NAME] is Sublessor and [NAME(S)] are Subtenant(s) under the separate room subtenancy created here. The subtenancy clauses below apply only to that second choice. This Agreement alone does not add or release anyone under the owner lease.

Master-lease permission: [SECTION AND TERMS / NONE]. ☐ Owner consent is attached as Exhibit B. ☐ Exhibit A permits this arrangement without further consent. ☐ Required program approval is attached as Exhibit B. No Subtenant will occupy before all required authorization is documented. No roommate may authorize a further transfer contrary to the owner lease.

1. Space and shared use

Each roommate may use the private area listed above and share [KITCHEN, BATHROOM, LIVING ROOM, PARKING, STORAGE, OTHER]. Occupants other than the signing roommates: [NAMES / NONE]. Guests, quiet hours, pets, smoking, cleaning, and shared-property rules: [SPECIFIC AGREED TERMS]. A signed change to house rules cannot override the owner lease or applicable law. Repairs and emergencies should be reported promptly to [OWNER/MANAGER CONTACT] and [ROOMMATE CONTACT].

2. Term, rent, utilities, and reimbursements

For co-tenants, this household-cost arrangement begins [__/__/____]. ☐ It continues month to month. ☐ It has a stated end date of [__/__/____]. For each separate Subtenant, complete that person's own occupancy dates and term below, subject to the lawful owner-lease term.

An end date or a roommate's departure does not itself remove a person from the owner lease or authorize eviction. Extensions require a signed writing and any required owner approval.

Monthly owner rent is $[____], due [DAY] to [OWNER/PAYEE]. Each roommate's share is: [NAME] $[____]; [NAME] $[____]; [NAME] $[____]. For a separate subtenancy, complete one room-rent line for each Subtenant; Sublessor receives that person's rent at the listed address or account. If the subtenancy is month to month, each full rental period begins on that Subtenant's rent due day and ends the day before that same day of the next month.

Complete the first-payment table below for every roommate. The parties will exchange receipts and proof of payment on request. Utility and internet shares, due dates, and accounts: [DETAILS]. Shared groceries, supplies, parking, and other charges: [DETAILS / NONE]. A roommate who advances another's agreed share may seek reimbursement from that roommate under this Agreement; this allocation does not reduce any obligation owed to Owner under the owner lease.

The first full-period amount, if a full period occurs, is the monthly share or separate Subtenant rent stated above. Any initial partial payment replaces that amount for its listed dates and is not charged twice. Write "none" when a short agreed term has no first full period or when no partial payment is owed. For a month-to-month Subtenant, align the first full period with the selected due day. Co-tenants' duties to Owner remain under Exhibit A.

For co-tenants, any owner rent still payable for those initial partial dates is allocated as follows: [NAMES, AMOUNTS, PAYEES, AND DUE DATES / NONE]. This internal allocation does not change the rent owed under the owner lease.

If an agreed term or occupancy lawfully ends during a monthly payment period, complete each affected roommate's final partial share below; otherwise write "none." A completed partial amount replaces the monthly share or separate Subtenant rent for its listed dates and is not charged twice. If initial and final partial dates coincide, use the initial row only and mark the final row "none." Credit each roommate's amount already paid for the listed dates against that person's remaining share, using the separate credit column below. Co-tenants will allocate any remaining owner rent for that period as follows: [NAMES, AMOUNTS, PAYEES, AND DUE DATES / NONE]. This payment schedule does not change the owner lease or itself end a protected tenancy.

For each separate Subtenant, Sublessor will also credit room rent already paid for dates covered by that person's completed initial partial payment and refund any excess prepaid rent for initial or final partial dates within 15 days after that Subtenant's subtenancy lawfully ends. This rent accounting is separate from the security-deposit accounting below and does not change co-tenants' rent obligations to Owner under Exhibit A.

3. Security and condition

Co-tenant route: The owner-lease security deposit is held by [OWNER] under Exhibit A. Contributions among co-tenants are [NAME/AMOUNT]. A departing co-tenant has no automatic right under this Agreement to demand an immediate partial refund from Owner while the owner tenancy continues. The co-tenants agree that [PERSON] will pay a departing roommate $[AMOUNT OR CALCULATION] by [DATE], subject to a signed accounting of any lawful charge or replacement contribution. When Owner returns the deposit, the roommates will account for documented contributions, individual and shared deductions, and any signed early buyout; the person receiving the refund will pay each remaining share within [____] days after receipt. This internal payment does not change Owner's duties or the owner lease.

Separate subtenancy route only: Complete one deposit line for each Subtenant. Subtenant pays Sublessor a refundable security deposit in the amount entered below, no more than one month's Subtenant rent. It is separate from any deposit paid to Owner.

Sublessor may deduct only amounts allowed by Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5, excluding preexisting conditions and ordinary wear. The signed move-in condition and photographs are Exhibit C; Sublessor will take the required move-in and move-out photographs. Before the subtenancy ends, Sublessor will give the written initial-inspection option and conduct any requested inspection under § 1950.5(f). Within 21 calendar days after Subtenant vacates, Sublessor will give an itemized statement, required supporting documents and photographs, and any remaining balance. If Sublessor received rent or security electronically, Sublessor will give the statutory electronic-return option notice and use the method Subtenant designates or the parties lawfully agree in writing. For multiple adult Subtenants, the joint-check rule applies unless all adult Subtenants and Sublessor sign a permitted allocation agreement or another statutory exception applies.

4. Access, notices, and departure

Roommates may use common areas without interfering with another's reasonable use. No roommate may enter another's private room without that roommate's consent, except for an immediate emergency or other right under the owner lease and applicable law. Any entry by a person acting as landlord must satisfy Cal. Civ. Code § 1954: allowed purpose, reasonable written notice with date, approximate time, and purpose, and normal business hours unless an exception applies. Twenty-four hours is presumed reasonable absent contrary evidence. Access may not be used to harass.

A roommate planning to leave will give the others written notice at [NOTICE ADDRESSES/EMAILS] at least [____] days before the proposed departure, subject to the owner lease and applicable law. For a month-to-month tenancy under § 1946.1, a tenant's statutory notice is at least one full rental period; an owner's statutory notice is generally 60 days, or 30 days when a tenant or resident has occupied for less than one year. Applicable just-cause and local protections may also limit termination. A departure notice between roommates alone does not terminate the owner lease or any separate subtenancy, and no roommate may remove another or change locks except through lawful process. The roommates will coordinate the return of keys, condition records, shared bills, and forwarding addresses at departure.

Megan's Law notice for a new residential subtenancy: Pursuant to Section 290.46 of the Penal Code, information about specified registered sex offenders is made available to the public via an Internet Web site maintained by the Department of Justice at www.meganslaw.ca.gov. Depending on an offender's criminal history, this information will include either the address at which the offender resides or the community of residence and ZIP Code in which the offender resides.

5. Agreement and signatures

California law governs, subject to applicable local law. No term waives a nonwaivable right. This Agreement, its exhibits, and signed changes state the roommates' agreement. If a term is invalid, the remainder remains effective to the extent permitted by law. Changes require all affected roommates' signatures and any required Owner authorization.

Exhibits delivered: ☐ A — full owner lease, amendments, and rules. ☐ B — Owner or program approval, if required. ☐ C — signed condition and photographs for a subtenancy deposit. ☐ D — applicable disclosures and notices, including the statutory bed-bug notice if creating a new subtenancy: [IDENTIFY / NONE APPLICABLE].

Roommate 1: [SIGNATURE] Printed name: [________________] Date: [__/__/____]

Roommate 2: [SIGNATURE] Printed name: [________________] Date: [__/__/____]

Roommate 3, if any: [SIGNATURE] Printed name: [________________] Date: [__/__/____]

Owner consent, if required: I consent to this identified roommate/subtenancy arrangement. No owner-lease co-tenant is added or released except through a separate signed lease amendment.

Owner or authorized agent: [SIGNATURE] Capacity: [________________] Date: [__/__/____]