Roommate Agreement in Wisconsin

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 Wisconsin law says

Roommate not on the lease	Wisconsin recognizes three kinds of tenancy: under a lease, periodic, and at will. A person who holds possession with the landlord's permission without a valid lease and without paying periodic rent is a tenant at will; one who pays rent on a periodic basis without a valid lease is a periodic tenant. So an occupant not on the lease can be a tenant if the landlord has given permission (or accepts periodic rent); a rental agreement may be oral or written. Source: Wis. Stat. § 704.01(2), (3m), (4), (5)
Removing a roommate or subtenant	No roommate-specific statute. A periodic tenancy or tenancy at will can be ended by either party only by written notice that states the intent to terminate and the termination date, given at least 28 days in advance (or at least one rent period if rent is paid more often than monthly); a periodic tenancy can only be ended at the end of a rental period. Whether a tenant can give this notice to a roommate depends on whether the roommate holds under the tenant. Source: Wis. Stat. § 704.19(1)-(4)

Roommate not on the lease

Wisconsin recognizes three kinds of tenancy: under a lease, periodic, and at will. A person who holds possession with the landlord's permission without a valid lease and without paying periodic rent is a tenant at will; one who pays rent on a periodic basis without a valid lease is a periodic tenant. So an occupant not on the lease can be a tenant if the landlord has given permission (or accepts periodic rent); a rental agreement may be oral or written.

Source: Wis. Stat. § 704.01(2), (3m), (4), (5)

Removing a roommate or subtenant

No roommate-specific statute. A periodic tenancy or tenancy at will can be ended by either party only by written notice that states the intent to terminate and the termination date, given at least 28 days in advance (or at least one rent period if rent is paid more often than monthly); a periodic tenancy can only be ended at the end of a rental period.

Whether a tenant can give this notice to a roommate depends on whether the roommate holds under the tenant.

Source: Wis. Stat. § 704.19(1)-(4)

Fill it in

Nothing you type leaves your browser. Replace anything still highlighted, and keep a signed copy.

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 · Wisconsin 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.