Apartments.com Survey Reveals Majority of Renters Have Lived with a Roommate

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RISMEDIA, August 31, 2007–Whether returning to school, moving to a new city, or replacing a former roommate, searching for, and living with a roommate does not have to be a stressful experience. A recent Apartments.com survey indicates that more than eighty-two percent of renters surveyed state they currently have, or have had, a roommate, and of the renters who have had a roommate, twelve percent say they enjoy having a roommate so much they would not rent without one.

Affordability tops the list of reasons why renters live with a roommate as sixty-four percent of survey respondents are unable to afford to live on their own. And, what could be more fun than sharing living expenses with a friend? Nearly sixty-four percent of survey respondents indicate that their roommate was a friend before they lived together.”Even if you ask a friend to partner on an apartment lease, it is still important to concentrate on open and honest communication,” says Mike Peters, vice president of business development at Roommates.com.

In order to ensure an enjoyable and stress-free experience when living with a roommate, Apartments.com and Roommates.com offer the following advice:

– First and foremost, all residents in an apartment must sign a formal lease. Without a signature on a lease, the renter has no true legal right to the residence.

– Create a roommate agreement that details items including who is responsible for paying rent and other utilities, who gets which bedroom, who will buy and prepare food and how will moving out be handled.

– Before moving in with a roommate, discuss the important issues which often cause the most arguments: cleaning, visitors, privacy, habits and hobbies. Choosing a roommate that compliments your personality will avoid later confrontations.

– Communication and consideration are key to a good roommate relationship; always treat your roommate the way you would like to be treated.

By making agreements and plans early in these rental relationships, living arrangements can be quite enjoyable. “Some of my best memories are from living with a roommate.” says Peters. “You’re not just saving money, you are making lifelong friendships”.

Renters can find additional information on how to choose a roommate as well as living with a roommate in the “Roommates & Neighbors” section of Apartment Living on Apartments.com (http://living.Apartments.com).

As part of its monthly “What Renters Want” research series, Apartments.com surveys renters on various topics. For more information on these surveys or to receive a copy of additional survey results, please contact Lisa DeVries at ldevries@apartments.com.

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