Things to consider

Before agreeing to live with someone new, make sure you talk about policies of smoking, pets, drug use, weapons in the house and how bills will be split. These have ALL been issues for people in the past. If you have any doubts or arguments with roommates about money or rent before you move in, seriously consider NOT living with them. The problems only get worse.

Culture also plays a part, so discuss different habits if you are going to be rooming with people with a culture different from yours. It can be a very enriching experience, but educate yourself on types of food, expectations, etc. before moving in just so you have no surprises.

Living in a house with a live-in landlord is pretty rare for students in Davis but it is not unheard of. They tend to be strict about who comes over/what time you come home/how much electricity is used/etc because it is their own home. Maybe students do not find this to be a good living situation. It's almost like having parents again, and you don't have the same power since you aren't equally responsible for the place, like when you share a lease equally with another roommate.

Finding the right person

If you don't already have somebody in mind, roommates can be found via the following services:

  • Roommates Wanted here on the Davis Wiki.
  • Facebook Housing Page — Browse available rooms and students seeking housing.
  • Craigslist - For optimal success, remove your post at the end of each day and repost it anew.
  • Roommates.com - Free to put up a profile, but it will cost you to contact people.
  • The California Aggie - Check out their classifieds.
  • Looking at various flyers posted around campus in bathrooms and on bulletin boards.
  • Davis Housing. This site has just been redesigned and has a free roommates/sublease section. They also put out an annual housing guide entitled the DavisHousing Print Edition (...it's that magazine that litters the campus and dorms for a few weeks every February and March. The magazine can be found at the info desk on campus and at select downtown businesses.)
  • UCDavis's Community Housing Listing. Free to browse, but costs to post— $5 for undergraduates, $22 for everyone else.
  • http://www.rent.com - Free to put up a profile, look for roommates, and contact them. Much better than "roommates.com"
  • http://www.uloop.com - UC Davis E-mail Accounts ONLY, Free, better than craigslist!

Beware rental scammers! https://www.fraudguides.com/consumers/rental-scams/#nigerian

See our Rental Housing Guide for more information

Coping with a roommate

Share your tips for successful roommate living here.

  • Accepting creative input from others!
  • Do yoga, it's a great stress relief, and in the long run can help one become a calmer, more accepting person.
  • Keep lines of communication open. Ask, don't assume because there's usually a logical reason behind everything.
  • Effective Response To Bad Roommates And Neighbors

And also, what to avoid...

  • Overt or unnecessary secrecy.

Dividing rent fairly

Most places to live do not have identical bedrooms, and this can create issues if roommates are expecting equal shares. Fortunately, there are better methods: The New York Times has a fantastic tool for revealing different preferences among roommates. The process guarantees an "envy-free" result of who gets what room and how much they pay, such that no one would rather have someone else's room+rent.

The associated article puts it this way: "Part of the beauty of the approach is that you don’t have to come up with numbers yourself. All it requires is that at each step you pick which room you like best based on the prices assigned to each room at that moment. As the method proceeds, the prices get closer and the decisions become harder, but it contains no surprises. You’re never stuck with a price that you haven’t chosen."

Before You Become Roommates . . .

Choosing roommates may be the most important decision you will have to make as an off-campus resident. To make a more informed choice, we encourage you and your prospective roommates to sit down together and use this flyer as a guide for discussion. By discussing important issues now, you may avoid problems later on. Explore your differences thoroughly and your tolerance of those differences.

Most prospective roommates discuss basic questions like what type of housing and how many roommates they want, but it's important not to stop here. You might also gain considerable benefit from discussion of habits, preferences, and expectations. Be sure to define terms; what you mean by sometimes, quiet, clean, and so forth may differ drastically from what another person means. Once you have completed the getting-acquainted process, take plenty of time before making a decision. Remember to weigh compatibilities and conflicts carefully, and don't be afraid to say no. Once you have selected your roommates, we suggest that you establish house rules immediately and WRITE them down. Sign your names and make a copy for each person.

Things For You To Consider

The Basics

  • What type of residence do I want-apartment, house, duplex, room in a private home, mobile home, or condominium?
  • What about location-distance from campus (or work), proximity to shopping, type of neighborhood?
  • What size of residence do I want? Do I want my own bedroom?
  • How many roommates would I be comfortable with?
  • Do I want a furnished or unfurnished place?
  • What special requirement do I have-laundry; storage; study; entertainment, outdoor, hobby, and cooking space; parking; wheelchair accessibility?
  • How much can I pay for rent and utilities?
  • What type of rental agreement do I want-month-to-month or lease?
  • Do I want to live with persons of the same sex or in a coed household?

Things to Discuss with Prospective Roommates

Habits

  • Do you smoke? If not, how do you feel about living with someone who smokes?
    • N.B.: How do you define 'smoking'? Does this entail only cigarettes or other substances? (This can prevent unfortunate misunderstandings!)
  • How do you feel about alcohol/drug use in your household?
  • What degree of neatness and cleanliness is important to you?
  • Do you have a special diet or other special health requirements?
  • How much time do you spend at home?
  • Is energy conservation important to you?

Preferences

  • Do you prefer to study at home? If so, when are you most likely to study?
  • Are music/TV OK? If so, what kind of music, how often, and how loud? What noise level can you tolerate?
  • How often do you want to have friends visit?
  • How do you feel about overnight guests, male and female? How many nights should they stay?
  • Should frequent guests who eat at your home share the food costs?
  • Do you have/want a pet? What kind and how many?
  • Are you willing to allow a roommate to have a pet?
  • How much privacy do you need?
  • Are you willing to share personal items-supplies, stereo, clothing? Do you expect to be asked for permission to use them?

Expectations

  • Will we cook together or buy groceries and prepare meals independently?
  • How will housekeeping responsibilities be divided? Split the chores 50/50? Take turns?
  • How will rent, utilities, groceries, and supplies be divided? Can you rely on each other to pay bills on time?
  • How will you solve problems? When I am upset about something that directly concerns my roommate, I will . . . When my roommate is upset about something that directly concerns me, I expect my roommate to . . .

If you decide to live together after discussing these issues, recognize that the process of communicating has just begun. Your roommate cannot read your mind! Set a pattern of communicating and working together on common concerns. Make a commitment to continue to be open, honest, assertive, and considerate. Remember, roommates are a choice!

-from the Student Housing Office, University of California, Davis 7/84

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