Roommate Agreement in Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania law says

Roommate not on the lease	Since 2024, Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act defines a tenant as a person who occupies another's land or premises in subordination to the other's title and with the other's express or implied consent, including through an oral or written lease or the owner's (or agent's) acceptance of rent. So a roommate not on the written lease can become a tenant if the owner expressly or impliedly consents, for example by accepting rent from them. Source: 68 P.S. § 250.102 ('Tenant', added by Act of July 17, 2024, P.L.944, No.88)
Removing a roommate or subtenant	No roommate-specific statute. To recover possession from a tenant, the landlord serves a written notice to quit: 15 days from service when the term expires or the lease is forfeited for a lease of one year or less or of indeterminate time (30 days for a lease of more than one year), or 10 days for unpaid rent. If the tenant does not leave, the landlord files a complaint with the magisterial district judge. The notice may be served personally, left at the principal building on the premises, or posted conspicuously on the premises. Whether a tenant who sublets can use this procedure against a roommate depends on whether the roommate is the tenant's own tenant. Source: 68 P.S. §§ 250.501(a), (b), (f), 250.502

Roommate not on the lease

Since 2024, Pennsylvania's Landlord and Tenant Act defines a tenant as a person who occupies another's land or premises in subordination to the other's title and with the other's express or implied consent, including through an oral or written lease or the owner's (or agent's) acceptance of rent. So a roommate not on the written lease can become a tenant if the owner expressly or impliedly consents, for example by accepting rent from them.

Source: 68 P.S. § 250.102 ('Tenant', added by Act of July 17, 2024, P.L.944, No.88)

Removing a roommate or subtenant

No roommate-specific statute. To recover possession from a tenant, the landlord serves a written notice to quit: 15 days from service when the term expires or the lease is forfeited for a lease of one year or less or of indeterminate time (30 days for a lease of more than one year), or 10 days for unpaid rent. If the tenant does not leave, the landlord files a complaint with the magisterial district judge. The notice may be served personally, left at the principal building on the premises, or posted conspicuously on the premises.

Whether a tenant who sublets can use this procedure against a roommate depends on whether the roommate is the tenant's own tenant.

Source: 68 P.S. §§ 250.501(a), (b), (f), 250.502

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 · Pennsylvania 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.