Rules prevent the arguments, not just settle them
Five people sharing a kitchen will each have a different idea of clean. Without a written standard, the tidiest person does all the work and resents it, and the first complaint you hear about is the third week of it. A rule that says dishes are washed within an hour turns a vague complaint into a clear yes or no.
Assigned storage does the same job for the fridge. Once each bedroom has its own shelf, food going missing becomes a specific question about a specific shelf instead of a house-wide accusation.
Make it part of the lease
House rules only carry weight when the lease says they are part of it. Attach a signed copy to every resident's lease, post one in the kitchen, and update it with reasonable notice when something changes. The room rental lease template on this site already refers to attached house rules.
Apply every rule to every resident the same way. A rule enforced against one person and ignored for another is not a house rule, it is a grievance, and in some cases it is a fair housing problem.
- Fill in the blanks for this house before anyone signs
- Assign cabinets and fridge space by bedroom, not by name, so it survives turnover
- Post the cleaning rotation where everyone sees it
- Give every new resident a copy on move-in day
When a rule is broken
The rules end with a three-step process counted over the previous twelve months: a written warning, then a warning with a fine the lease allows, then a notice to vacate giving the time the law requires. Serious violations, such as an open flame indoors or sharing a door code, may go straight to a notice. Writing the steps down in advance is what makes the third step defensible. Check your state's rules on notices and fines before you rely on it.
Common questions
Can I fine a resident for breaking a house rule?
Only if the lease allows it, and only within your state's rules. That is why the room rental lease sets the fine as additional rent rather than leaving it to the house rules alone. Some states limit fines or how they can be collected, so check yours.
Can I change the house rules after residents move in?
Most leases, including the room rental lease template here, let the landlord update written house rules with reasonable notice. Changes cannot cut into the resident's rights under the lease or the law, and they must apply to everyone equally.
What should a cleaning rotation cover?
The shared spaces that cause the most friction: kitchen counters and cooktop, the kitchen floor, any shared bathroom, the living room, and taking trash and recycling out and the bins to the curb and back. Rotate weekly so nobody is stuck with the same job.
This form is a general-purpose starting point, not legal advice and not written for any particular state. Landlord and tenant law varies by state and often by city. Check your own state's requirements, and have an attorney review anything you plan to rely on in a dispute.