Download free, fully‑editable Room Rental Agreement templates in Microsoft Word. Includes single‑room, roommate, short‑term, furnished and pet‑friendly rentals plus a step‑by‑step guide. You can explore all of our Agreement Templates to find one suitable for your requirements.
Renting out a single room in a house, an apartment or a boarding-house may be an informal arrangement; however, the absence of a clear contract can soon give rise to conflicts over rent, utilities, house rules, security deposit handling and the sharing of common areas. A Room Rental Agreement makes it possible to document the expectations of both the landlord (or primary tenant) and the room-renter in writing, thus specifying the amount of rent due, the share of utilities for each party, the cleaning responsibilities, the guest or pet policies, and the notice period before moving out. These terms, when written down in one unifying and enforceable contract, not only safeguard your monetary gains but also lessen the probability of expensive miscommunication and build a paper trail that can be shown to a court or small-claims tribunal in case a dispute occurs. To ensure fast and easy legal protection for all your rental room cases, we have put together a collection of free, completely editable Room Rental Agreement templates that are available for download, personalization, and signing within minutes—all thanks to the predominant existence of Microsoft Word on almost every computer.
What Is a Room Rental Agreement?
A Room Rental Agreement is a private contract between a landlord (or the primary tenant who holds the lease) and a room‑renter who will occupy a specific bedroom or designated space within a larger dwelling. The agreement identifies both parties by full legal name and address, specifies the exact address of the property, and clearly describes the rented premises (e.g., “Room 2, second‑floor bedroom, 12 × 10 ft, with access to shared kitchen and bathroom”).
The main financial terms comprising the monthly rent, the date of payment, and the various ways of paying (bank transfer, check, online portal), besides the amount of security deposit to be paid in case of damage, are among the most important. Since the room-renter usually shares the costs of utilities with other inhabitants, the contract specifies the manner in which the utility costs (electricity, water, internet, trash removal) will be divided—usually based on a fixed amount or a percentage of the total bill.
A detailed Room Rental Agreement also includes house rules that regulate the common space: restrictions on noise during certain hours, limits on the guest policy (number of nights a guest can stay in a month), rules regarding pets (or requiring a pet deposit), smoking regulations, and duties for cleaning communal areas (kitchen, living room, bathroom). The agreement specifies who is responsible for what in terms of maintenance and repairs (the landlord does the big repairs, the person renting the room keeps the area clean and informs the landlord quickly about any repairs needed).
The contract contains a cancellation clause that stipulates the length of the notice required (often 30 days), the procedure for returning the security deposit less any damages, and any penalties for early termination if the room renter leaves before the end of the lease. Moreover, a dispute resolution provision—usually mediation followed by small claims court jurisdiction—gives the parties a clear way to settle any disagreements that might occur. The Room Rental Agreement incorporates all these aspects, thus establishing a transparent, enforceable framework that protects the landlord’s property and the room renter’s right to live in peace.
Download free Rental Agreement Templates
Here are previews and download links for these free Rental Agreement Templates in MS Word format.
How to Use a Room Rental Agreement Sample in Word?
Open the downloaded Word file and scroll through the document to locate each bracketed placeholder—examples include “[Landlord Name]”, “[Room‑Renter Name]”, “[Rental Address]”, “[Monthly Rent]”, “[Security Deposit]”, “[Utility Split Method]” and “[Governing Law]”. Replace each placeholder with the exact details of your arrangement.
In case the agreement contains a utility-split schedule, write down the amounts or percentages for which the room-renter will be liable for each bill. For a security-deposit clause, indicate the sum, the situations in which it can be retained (for example, damage, unpaid rent) and the period for returning the rest of the deposit after the tenant moves out.
In case the contract includes a pet-policy, specify the pet-type, the extra pet-deposit, and the particular rules (for example, “no pets on furniture”). If the landlord insists on the room-renter keeping the private bedroom in a clean condition, then record the cleaning expectations and the fines for not adhering to them.
Since agreements that include renting a room are likely to follow the particular local statutes that deal with landlords and tenants-related issues—primarily concerning notice periods, security deposits, and habitability requirements—it is better for the parties involved to secure separate legal advisors prior to signing the agreements. A lawyer will confirm that the conditions for increase in rent are in accord with any regulations pertaining to rent control, that the security deposit is not more than the legal limit in the area where you live, and that restrictions related to house rules are legally binding.
After the document has undergone a review process and all placeholders have been filled in, produce two copies, get the signature of the landlord and the room-renter in the presence of the necessary witnesses or a notary public if your state requires notarization for residential rental agreements. Securely keep the original document and store a searchable PDF version for quick reference during the whole rental period.
Popular Types of Room Rental Agreements
When choosing a template you should consider the length of the tenancy, whether the space is furnished, whether pets are allowed and how utilities are divided among occupants.
Single‑Room Rental Agreement
A Single‑Room Rental Agreement is the easiest and the simplest approach for a landlord planning to rent out an extra room in a family house. The contract states a specific amount for the monthly rent, a share of the utilities which will depend on the number of residents (usually charged as a flat rate per month), and a list of rules that every housemate must follow—no loud music after 10 PM, no smoking inside the house, and a maximum of two overnight visitors per month. Since the landlord is in possession of the whole residence, the contract may also stipulate that the landlord is allowed to enter the rented space of the tenant after giving a notice of 24 hours for doing inspections or repairs.
Roommate Shared‑Space Rental Agreement
The A Roommate Shared Space Rental Agreement is utilized in the situation where the lead tenant, already binding under a contract with the landlord, leases a room to a co-inhabitant. Such an agreement should mention the original lease, give proof that the primary tenant has the right to sublease, and restrict co-inhabitant to tenant’s lease conditions (e.g. no pets, no illegal activities, etc.). Moreover, it specifies the share of the rent and other charges that the co-inhabitant has to pay and makes it clear that the primary tenant is still responsible to the landlord for the entire lease amount.
Short‑Term (Month‑to‑Month) Room Rental Agreement
A Short‑Term (Month‑to‑Month) Room Rental is advised for travelers, students on exchange or professionals on temporary assignments. The lease period is month-to-month, the rent is paid at the start of each month, and the security deposit is generally equal to one month’s rent. The contract often provides a shorter notice period (15 days) for termination and may also limit the tenant’s liability for utilities to a specified dollar amount to prevent unexpected bills.
Furnished Room Rental Agreement
A Furnished Room Rental Agreement is perfect for situations where the landlord supplies a bed, nightstand, lamp, dresser, and perhaps even a tiny bookshelf. The template includes a list of items that the tenant signs at the time of moving in, indicating the state of each item. The security deposit is increased to ensure that the landlord can cover any loss or damage to the furniture, and the agreement clearly states that the cost of any items that are missing or damaged will be taken out of the deposit.
Pet‑Friendly Room Rental Form
A Pet-Friendly Room Rental Form imposes a pet-deposit (usually $200-$300) and a pet-care clause on the tenant which obliges him or her to keep the pet leashed in the areas shared with others, to clean up the animal and to see that any pet-related damage (stains, scratches) is repaired before the tenant moves out. The form may also mention types of pets that are not allowed (e.g., “no large dogs”) and a monthly fee for the pet to cover the extra cleaning costs.
Student‑Housing Room Rental Agreement
A Student‑Housing Room Rental template is made for case where university dorm‑like apartments are rented out and multiple students house together. It usually contains a guarantor clause (parental or guardianship co‑signing), a compulsory renter’s insurance requirement plus a quiet‑study hour provision that is in accordance with academic schedules.
Board‑and‑Room Agreement
A Board‑and‑Room Agreement (often referred to as “room and board”) unites a room lease with a meal plan. The agreement specifies the weekly meal count, the per-meal cost, any food preferences, and the complete rent that covers both accommodation and food.
Co‑Living Community Room Rental Agreement
Co-Living Community Room Rental is ideally for intentional-community houses where people live together sharing space, doing chores and taking care of communal responsibilities. The contract specifies a schedule for rotating chores, a contribution to a communal fund for shared supplies, and a process for conflict resolution that may include a house council meeting.
Room Rental Addendum for Sub‑letting
A Room Rental Addendum for Subletting facilitates the tenant to momentarily rent out his/her room to a visitor for a short term period (e.g. a friend travelling). It includes the landlord’s written permission, states the longest duration for the subletting (generally 30 days), and guarantees that the original tenant stays responsible for the rent and any damages caused by the sub-tenant.
By matching the template to the specific circumstances of your rental—whether you are a homeowner offering a single furnished bedroom, a primary tenant sub‑letting to a roommate, or a landlord accommodating short‑term guests—you can create a Room Rental Agreement that clearly defines rent, utility allocation, house rules and termination rights, thereby minimizing disputes and protecting both parties’ interests.
