Roommate Agreement in Kentucky

An agreement between roommates on rent shares, bills, chores and moving out. It is a contract between you — it does not change your lease with the landlord.

What Kentucky law says

Roommate not on the lease	Where the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies, a "tenant" is a person entitled under a written or oral rental agreement to occupy a dwelling unit to the exclusion of others, and a "landlord" includes a sublessor. A roommate with no agreement with the landlord or the leaseholder is not a tenant under that definition; a roommate who sublets from the leaseholder can be that leaseholder's tenant. Kentucky's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (KRS 383.505-383.715) applies only in cities and counties that have adopted it (KRS 383.500). Source: KRS 383.545(5), (11), (15)
Removing a roommate or subtenant	A leaseholder who sublets is the roommate's landlord. The tenancy must first be ended with written notice: one month for a tenancy at will in areas without the uniform Act, or at least 30 days before a periodic rental date for month to month in areas with it. The roommate is then removed through a forcible detainer case in district court. In uniform-Act areas, a landlord who unlawfully removes or excludes a tenant or cuts essential services owes up to three months' rent plus attorney's fees. Kentucky's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (KRS 383.505-383.715) applies only in cities and counties that have adopted it (KRS 383.500). Source: KRS 383.195, 383.200(3)(a), 383.695, 383.655

Roommate not on the lease

Where the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies, a "tenant" is a person entitled under a written or oral rental agreement to occupy a dwelling unit to the exclusion of others, and a "landlord" includes a sublessor. A roommate with no agreement with the landlord or the leaseholder is not a tenant under that definition; a roommate who sublets from the leaseholder can be that leaseholder's tenant.

Kentucky's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (KRS 383.505-383.715) applies only in cities and counties that have adopted it (KRS 383.500).

Source: KRS 383.545(5), (11), (15)

Removing a roommate or subtenant

A leaseholder who sublets is the roommate's landlord. The tenancy must first be ended with written notice: one month for a tenancy at will in areas without the uniform Act, or at least 30 days before a periodic rental date for month to month in areas with it. The roommate is then removed through a forcible detainer case in district court. In uniform-Act areas, a landlord who unlawfully removes or excludes a tenant or cuts essential services owes up to three months' rent plus attorney's fees.

Kentucky's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (KRS 383.505-383.715) applies only in cities and counties that have adopted it (KRS 383.500).

Source: KRS 383.195, 383.200(3)(a), 383.695, 383.655

Fill it in

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ROOMMATE AGREEMENT for [rental address]

Roommates: [roommate names]

Rent: total $[total rent] per month. Shares: [each roommate's share]. Each share is paid to [who pays the landlord] by [due date].

Security deposit paid by each roommate: [deposit shares]. When someone moves out, their share is returned [how and when].

Utilities and internet: [how bills are split and who holds each account].

Rooms and shared spaces: [who has which room; shared areas].

Cleaning and chores: [chore plan]. Quiet hours: [quiet hours]. Guests: [overnight guest limits].

Moving out: a roommate who leaves gives [notice period] written notice to the others and [finds a replacement approved by the landlord / pays their share until the lease ends].

Disputes: we will first try to talk it out, then [mediation or small claims court].

Signatures and dates: [signatures]

Roommate Agreement for other states · Kentucky tenant rights

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.