What is the fairest way to split rent with roommates?
There is no single rule. The three common methods are: equal shares (simplest), by room size in square feet (rewards those with smaller rooms), and by income (proportional to what each person earns). By-room-size is popular when bedrooms differ a lot; equal split works when rooms are similar. This calculator supports all three.
Are roommates jointly responsible for the rent?
Usually yes. When roommates are co-tenants on one lease, they are typically 'jointly and severally' liable, meaning the landlord can demand the full rent from any one of them if others do not pay. A written roommate agreement does not change your obligation to the landlord but helps settle disputes between roommates.
How should we split the deposit?
Split the security or last-month-rent deposit in the same proportion as the rent, and record who contributed what in writing. When someone moves out, the departing roommate should be reimbursed by the incoming replacement rather than by the landlord, since the landlord holds one deposit for the whole unit.
What if one roommate moves out early?
If everyone is on one lease, the remaining roommates are still liable for the full rent unless the landlord agrees to remove the departing person. Options include finding a replacement (with landlord consent), formally assigning or subletting the departing roommate's share, or renegotiating the lease.