Roommate Agreement in Minnesota

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 Minnesota law says

Roommate not on the lease	Minnesota defines a 'residential tenant' as a person occupying a dwelling under an oral or written lease or contract that requires payment of money or services, plus all other regular occupants of that dwelling unit. A lease can be oral. So a roommate who regularly lives in the unit may count as a residential tenant for many purposes even if not on the written lease; whether they have rights against the landlord under the lease depends on the facts. Source: Minn. Stat. § 504B.001, subds. 8, 12
Removing a roommate or subtenant	Minnesota allows removal of a tenant only through a court eviction action followed by a writ executed by the sheriff; lockouts, utility shutoffs and similar self-help are not allowed. 'Landlord' includes a lessee in control of rental property, so a tenant who sublets to a roommate must give proper written notice and then file an eviction action if the roommate stays. Many leases allow subletting only with the landlord's consent; the original tenant stays responsible to the landlord for the subtenant's rent and damage. Source: Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.001, subds. 4, 7; 504B.375; Minn. Attorney General, Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities

Roommate not on the lease

Minnesota defines a 'residential tenant' as a person occupying a dwelling under an oral or written lease or contract that requires payment of money or services, plus all other regular occupants of that dwelling unit. A lease can be oral. So a roommate who regularly lives in the unit may count as a residential tenant for many purposes even if not on the written lease; whether they have rights against the landlord under the lease depends on the facts.

Source: Minn. Stat. § 504B.001, subds. 8, 12

Removing a roommate or subtenant

Minnesota allows removal of a tenant only through a court eviction action followed by a writ executed by the sheriff; lockouts, utility shutoffs and similar self-help are not allowed. 'Landlord' includes a lessee in control of rental property, so a tenant who sublets to a roommate must give proper written notice and then file an eviction action if the roommate stays.

Many leases allow subletting only with the landlord's consent; the original tenant stays responsible to the landlord for the subtenant's rent and damage.

Source: Minn. Stat. §§ 504B.001, subds. 4, 7; 504B.375; Minn. Attorney General, Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities

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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 · Minnesota 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.