Roommate Resources

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Finding a Roommate

Please use the Off-Campus Housing & Roommate Database​ to post your roommate profile and search other CU Denver student profiles. The database is only accessible to CU Denver students. You will be required to login using your CU Denver student information.

For any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to email CommuterServices@ucdenver.edu.

Please note the Office of Commuter Services does not endorse any particular roommate and encourages students to read the below resources prior to selecting a roommate.

Discussions to Have Before Moving In Together

There are several discussions that may be helpful for potential roommates to have before committing to living together. Having these discussions may help cut down on miscommunications and stress after move-in.​ Before looking for a roommate you should consider the pros, cons, and your needs (this is different than wants).

Reasons to Consider a Roommate

  • Reduced monthly cost of living/rent
  • Companionship
  • Increased safety (e.g., someone else is around)

Ask Yourself When Choosing a Roommate

  • How well do I get along with others, especially my new potential roommate?
  • What are some of our differences? Similarities?
  • Do we communicate our problems well?
  • Do we have similar lifestyles? (e.g., drinking, cleanliness, quiet time, school, etc.)
  • Do we look at budgeting and financials similarly? (i.e., Can I rely on my roommate to pay their portion of rent?)

Tip: Carefully interview and get to know your potential roommate prior to moving in together. Remember: it is okay to say “no” to a potential roommate.

Communicating With Your Roommate

  • Open and honest communication
  • Talk about an issue right when it happens (do not wait).
  • Post your schedules
  • Discuss expectations prior to moving in (and continuing discussing them as situations arise)

Example: is it okay to have others stay overnight?

Establish Boundaries

Consider creating a roommate contract that will clearly state agreed upon rules and financial contributions for each person.​​

Roommate Conflict

Often times students will choose to live with a roommate while attending the university. CU Denver offers a roommate resource for students. This is not a roommate placement service; however it can assist your student in finding a roommate who is also a student at CU Denver.

Roommate conflicts are natural and healthy. Part of the college learning experience may also include learning to live with a roommate. This experience will help your student to learn essential skills like communication and boundary setting. You can help this process by challenging your student to actively work through the issues, instead of avoiding them or looking for easy answers. Changing roommates is often not the best solution, so helping your student seek alternative solutions, will enhance the learning that can come from this experience.​​​​​

Encourage Communication

Even if your student has chosen his or her roommate, and especially if he or she hasn’t, help get them in contact early and often. The more the students communicate before move-in, the less like strangers they’ll seem when the day arrives.

  • Important topics to cover during the summer are sleep, study and social habits - are they compatible and, if not, what kind of compromise will be made?
  • Roommates need to know each other’s expectations and limitations regarding personal belongings such as clothing, electronic equipment and use of items in the room while one or the other is away.
  • Roommates need to be clear on the behavior expected of each other’s guests and how to express concerns to each other.
  • Most importantly for now, roommates need to figure out who is bringing what for the room - absolutely nobody wants to move heavy electronic equipment or a piece of furniture only to cart it back home!

Roommate Considerations Checklist

The guide below offers some suggested questions to ask yourself and potential roommates as you begin your search.

(Click to enlarge/download)

054-20 ROOMMATE CONSIDERATIONS Who will you live with? Who you live with may be even more important than where you live, so it’s a good idea to think through the decision of whether to have roommates and who your roommates will be. While your best friend might seem like an obvious choice, be sure that you have considered the challenges that living in close quarters will bring. Living together can sometimes strain friendships, especially if you disagree about cleanliness, parties, guests, paying bills, or expectations of each other. QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF AS YOU CONSIDER LOOKING FOR A ROOMMATE(S): Age – ‰ Are you looking for roommates who are the same age as you? Number – ‰ How many people could you realistically share your home with? ‰ How many people do you think you can comfortably live with in the space you are looking at? Lifestyle – ‰ What kind of lifestyle do you plan to lead in your new home? ‰ What are your study habits? ‰ What is your attitude toward overnight guests, parties, etc.? ‰ Could conflicts occur with your roommate(s) because of different schedules, diets, pets, smoking, drinking, or other personal/social habits? Rent – ‰ What are you willing to pay as your share of the rent? ‰ How are you willing to divide the rent cost (evenly, or adjusted according to room size/amenities, belongings, pets, etc.)? Length of Time – ‰ How long are you planning to live in this home? ‰ How long are you planning to live with the same roommates? Responsibility – ‰ Are you willing to put your name on the utility bills, lease, security deposit? ‰ Are you willing to have a roommate’s name on the utility bills, lease, security deposit? Chores – ‰ Will there be designated chores/responsibilities for upkeep of the home? ‰ How concerned are you about your potential roommate(s) cleanliness and maintenance habits? Sharing – ‰ Would you rather buy food and household suplies separately or together? ‰ What is your policy for sharing items in common areas, such as electronics or living room/dining room furniture? ‰ What are you willing to contribute towards furnishing the home (appliances, furniture, etc.)? Pets – ‰ Do you currently have, or would you like to have, a pet? ‰ Would you share responsibility for its care? ‰ How many pets would you be comfortable having in the space? Parking – ‰ How important is having your own parking space? ‰ How many parking spaces are available, compared to how many potential roommates have cars? Privacy – ‰ How will you determine/establish boundaries with your roommates, your space, and your time? Roommate Relationship Expectations – ‰ Will you want your roommate to share just the financial responsibility and space? ‰ Or, will you want your roommate to be part of your social life? QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR POTENTIAL ROOMMATES AS YOU DISCUSS SHARING A PLACE TO LIVE: Household/Personal Security – ‰ Do you lock the doors while at home? ‰ How concerned would you be if you have not heard from your roommate in over 48 hours? Cleaning/Maintenance – ‰ How important is a clean household to you? ‰ How frequently would you expect your roommate to participate in household cleaning? ‰ Are you okay with personal property being left in common areas? Sharing – ‰ Are you okay with roommates borrowing your belongings or would you prefer they did not? ‰ Do you plan to share any household consumables or keep everything separate? Privacy/Relationship Expectations – ‰ Are you OK with your roommate walking around in his/her underwear? ‰ What type of relationship are you looking for with your new roommate? ‰ Are you looking for someone to hang out with or someone to just share the bills? Lifestyle/Personal Habits – ‰ Are political or religious outlooks important to you? ‰ What are your expectations of household noise? ‰ Are you a night owl or an early bird? ‰ Is smoking/vaping an issue? Are certain areas off limits or designated for smoking? ‰ What are your views on consumption of alcohol and/or other substances? Guests/Visitors – ‰ Do you have any friends and/or family members (local or out of town) who will be stopping by/staying over? How frequently and for what length of time? ‰ Do you have a “significant other” (local or out of town) who will be stopping by/staying over? How frequently and for what length of time?

Sample Roommate Agreement

Filling out a roommate agreement like the one below before you move in with someone can help avoid any misunderstandings later on. Having your expectations in writing can alleviate stress and confusion and keep everyone on the same page.

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SAMPLE ROOMMATE AGREEMENT This agreement made on ________________ (date) is a contract between: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________co-tenants, for the rental premises located at ______________________________________________________. This agreement is to last for the same term as our lease agreement, which runs from ________________ to ________________. I understand that I am entering into a legally binding agreement that is enforceable by and between my roommates. I understand that this agreement is not enforceable with regard to my landlord, and will not protect me against any claims that my landlord may have against myself or my roommates under our lease agreement. Security Deposit: The security deposit for the rental premises is $________________. My share amounts to $________________. I accept responsibility for damages which I, my pet(s), or my guests cause, and I will reimburse my roommates for the part of the security deposit withheld for these damages. Rent: The total rent according to the lease agreement is $ ________________ per month. I promise to pay $________________ per month on or before the due date set forth in the lease agreement. My payments will be made to___________________________________(ex. directly to the landlord or to co-tenant). I understand that we as a group, and I as an individual, are responsible to the landlord for the total rent due for the full term of the lease agreement. I understand that the landlord can evict all of the tenants if the landlord doesn’t receive the rental payments in full and on time each month. Utilities: I promise to pay 1/____ of the deposits and/or hook-up charges for all utilities. I promise to pay 1/____ of the monthly utilities (water, gas, electric, etc). I promise to place the following utilities in my name and to ensure that monthly payments are collected and made by all co-tenants in full and ontime_____________________________________________. I promise to pay as follows for any additional utilities or services (cable, internet, security system) _______________________________________________________________________________________. Moving Out: If, for any reason, I move out of the rental premises, I realize that it is my responsibility to find a replacement tenant. I promise to take reasonable steps to find a replacement roommate who is acceptable to my present roommates. If one of my roommates moves out, I understand that it is my responsibility to take reasonable steps to find a replacement tenant. I understand that it is in the best interests of all roommates to replace any departing tenants as quickly as possible because all of the roommates still remain liable to the landlord for the full amount of the rent. Additional Agreements: Attached are additional agreements that are incorporated into this contract, including: food/shopping arrangements; cleaning responsibilities; privacy; parking; sharing personal items; noise/study times; smoking/drinking/drugs; parties and entertaining; overnight guests, pets, etc. The roommates have executed this agreement on ________________ (date). Signed by: ___________________