Roommate Agreement in Oregon

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 Oregon law says

Roommate not on the lease	A tenant is a person, including a roomer, entitled under a rental agreement to occupy a unit to the exclusion of others; a guest or temporary occupant is not a tenant. A landlord, tenant, and proposed occupant can sign a written temporary occupancy agreement: the temporary occupant has no tenant rights, the tenant may end the agreement at any time without cause, and the landlord may end it only for a material violation. A person living in the unit who is neither entitled under a rental agreement nor authorized by the tenant is a 'squatter'. The landlord may screen a proposed temporary occupant for conduct or criminal record but not credit history or income (ORS 90.275(5)). Source: ORS 90.100(47), (51); ORS 90.275
Removing a roommate or subtenant	If the roommate is a temporary occupant under a written agreement, the tenant may end the agreement at any time without written notice; the temporary occupant must promptly leave and is treated as a squatter if they stay after the tenant revokes permission. An owner or landlord may then take possession through Oregon's court eviction procedure (ORS 105.100 to 105.168) after giving 24 hours' written notice stating the date and time to vacate and that the cause is squatter status. Temporary occupancy: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors090.html. A roommate who is a tenant under a rental agreement is instead removed with the termination notices for tenants. If the temporary occupant fails to leave, the landlord may also terminate the tenant's tenancy (ORS 90.275(9)). Source: ORS 90.275(3), (8)-(10); ORS 91.140

Roommate not on the lease

A tenant is a person, including a roomer, entitled under a rental agreement to occupy a unit to the exclusion of others; a guest or temporary occupant is not a tenant. A landlord, tenant, and proposed occupant can sign a written temporary occupancy agreement: the temporary occupant has no tenant rights, the tenant may end the agreement at any time without cause, and the landlord may end it only for a material violation. A person living in the unit who is neither entitled under a rental agreement nor authorized by the tenant is a 'squatter'.

The landlord may screen a proposed temporary occupant for conduct or criminal record but not credit history or income (ORS 90.275(5)).

Source: ORS 90.100(47), (51); ORS 90.275

Removing a roommate or subtenant

If the roommate is a temporary occupant under a written agreement, the tenant may end the agreement at any time without written notice; the temporary occupant must promptly leave and is treated as a squatter if they stay after the tenant revokes permission. An owner or landlord may then take possession through Oregon's court eviction procedure (ORS 105.100 to 105.168) after giving 24 hours' written notice stating the date and time to vacate and that the cause is squatter status.

Temporary occupancy: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors090.html. A roommate who is a tenant under a rental agreement is instead removed with the termination notices for tenants. If the temporary occupant fails to leave, the landlord may also terminate the tenant's tenancy (ORS 90.275(9)).

Source: ORS 90.275(3), (8)-(10); ORS 91.140

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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 · Oregon 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.