TOOL / LEGAL · PLATFORM-WIDE
Roommate
agreement template.
A Roommate Agreement is a contract between a renter and someone with the right to reside in a residential unit - a lease-holding tenant or unit owner. It serves as clear evidence of agreed-upon house rules and financial terms. This resource gives you the free tools to build one.
Jump to: Context · Legal uses · Accountability · Template · FAQ
PLATFORM-WIDE
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01 / CONTEXT: WHY USE A ROOMMATE AGREEMENT?
In Ontario's housing crisis, thousands of residents live in a legal void - arrangements where the Residential Tenancies Act does not apply. We built this template to bridge that gap. By formalizing your house rules, you aren't just splitting rent; you're actively contributing to housing stability and preventing the displacement that fuels instability in our rental market.
Looking for a sublet instead? A sublet requires landlord consent and RTA protection. See the free Sublet Rules + Template.
This page is not legal advice. For specific questions about managing shared living, we recommend the Ontario Tenant Rights community.
02 / LEGAL
Uses and limits of roommate agreements.
Most roommates living with a leaseholder are considered occupants, not tenants. Without security of tenure through the RTA, a written agreement is your only defense for establishing notice periods, financial obligations, and personal boundaries - though it cannot replace anyone's rights under the RTA or the Ontario Human Rights Code. This template is designed for two arrangements:
01Off-lease roommates
Also called occupants or a paying guest. A renter moves into a room in a unit offered by a tenant who has a lease with the landlord. The renter is not added to that lease.
02Boarders
A renter shares a kitchen or bathroom with the property owner or their immediate family. Under RTA s. 5(i), this exempts the arrangement from the Act entirely while the owner or family member lives in the unit.
03Sublet or roommate agreement?
In Ontario, a sublet is a specific legal process where a leaseholder moves out temporarily and a new person moves in. Unlike an off-lease roommate, a sublet requires landlord consent and carries RTA protections. If the leaseholder still lives there, it is not a sublet.
03 / ACCOUNTABILITY
Build standards for financial and social responsibility.
Leaseholding tenants bear 100% of the liability to the landlord for damages or unpaid rent, and off-lease roommates face the constant unease of displacement. A Roommate Agreement replaces guesswork with mutual respect - eliminating friction, protecting everyone's budget, and giving you evidence for Small Claims Court since the LTB has no jurisdiction over these disputes.
04 / GET THE TEMPLATE
Get the roommate template.
This is not generic advice - we continue to revise this template against the real-world experiences of our 150k+ community of renters and housing providers. Add or remove sections as needed. At a base level you should keep:
- Rent. Deposit handling, lease duration, payment dates, and payment method.
- Terms. Termination, notice periods, and conflict resolution.
- Boundaries and maintenance. Guests, noise, kitchen rules, allergens, substance use, cleaning, and utility splitting.
Includes rent and deposit terms, notice periods, and shared-living boundaries · Informational purposes only - not legal advice.
05 / FAQ
Common roommate questions.
01Can an off-lease roommate be evicted without notice?
No. Because this falls outside the RTA, common law usually requires providing reasonable notice - typically one full rental period. To protect everyone involved, we recommend reaching out to a local legal clinic for free guidance. You can locate your regional clinic through Legal Aid Ontario.
02A roommate has breached our contract - what should I do?
Provide written notice of the breach immediately. If unresolved, consult the Ontario Tenant Rights group for peer advice, or prepare a filing for Small Claims Court using this agreement as your foundation.
03Are landlords required to vet my roommate?
No. If the roommate is not on the lease, the responsibility falls on the leaseholder. In Ontario, landlord permission is generally not required to have a paying guest or roommate. If you are a leaseholder temporarily vacating your rental and wish to have a replacement tenant for that time, this is a sublet and requires landlord permission.
04My roommate is holding my last month's rent deposit - what can I do?
Because the LTB cannot intervene in money disputes involving off-lease roommates, a signed agreement is essential for proving the debt in Small Claims Court.
RELATED RESOURCES
Issue roommate rent receipts · Toronto Sublet Rules + Template · Ontario Tenant Rights ↗ · Ontario Standard Lease ↗
RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES ACT, 2006 (SO 2006, c 17)
s. 5 - Exemptions from the Act (shared kitchen/bathroom with owner) ↗
Full statute: Ontario e-Laws, RTA 2006 · Guide to the RTA: Tribunals Ontario ↗ · Informational only - not legal advice.