Direct answer: Write house rules before you advertise, attach them to your written room agreement, and cover the topics that cause most friction. The eight most common are quiet hours, guests, kitchen, cleaning, bills, parking, smoking and pets.
- Quiet hours
- Guests and overnight visitors
- Kitchen and food labeling
- Cleaning and shared chores
- Rent and utility bill timing
- Parking
- Smoking and vaping
- Pets
Use this page for sample wording and a printable template, then customize in the free House Rules Builder. Pair rules with permission checks in Can I rent out a room? and pricing in the pricing guide.
Build your house rules now
Turn your boundaries into a clean draft you can paste into your agreement or listing follow-up.
Open the House Rules Builder15 common house rules (with sample wording)
Edit the samples so they match your home. Replace placeholders like X nights or [describe] before anyone signs.
| Topic | Sample wording |
|---|---|
| Quiet hours | Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on weekdays and 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. on weekends. Keep voices, TV, and calls at a level that does not disturb sleep. |
| Guests and overnight visitors | Daytime guests are welcome with a heads-up when possible. Overnight guests are limited to X nights per month and are not allowed to stay in shared spaces overnight without prior agreement. |
| Kitchen use | Clean dishes, counters, and cookware the same day you use them. Label your food. Ask before using someone else's groceries. |
| Cleaning and shared chores | Each person cleans their private room. Shared areas (kitchen, bath, living room, entry) are cleaned on a simple weekly rotation we write down at move-in. |
| Bathroom | Leave the shared bathroom ready for the next person: wipe the sink, hang towels, and take personal items with you when the schedule is tight. |
| Utilities and bills | Rent is due on the date in the agreement. Shared utilities follow the written split method. Use a clear formula so nobody invents a new method mid-month. |
| Internet and work-from-home | Streaming and video calls are fine. Do not run servers or heavy downloads that crowd out normal household use without talking it through first. |
| Parking | The assigned parking spot is [describe]. Street parking rules are the renter's responsibility. Do not block the driveway or trash access. |
| Smoking and vaping | No smoking or vaping of any substance inside the home. Outdoor smoking, if allowed, is only in [spot] and butts must be disposed of safely. |
| Pets | No pets unless both people agree in writing in advance, including type, size, and any pet fee or deposit allowed by local rules. |
| Safety and locks | Do not prop exterior doors. Do not copy keys without permission. Tell the other person promptly if a key is lost. |
| Packages and mail | Accept packages for each other when home. Do not open someone else's mail. Large deliveries get a quick text first when possible. |
| Shared supplies | Toilet paper, trash bags, and basic cleaners are shared and restocked on a simple split we agree to. Specialty items are personal. |
| Common areas and storage | Keep personal clutter out of shared walkways. Storage for the renter is limited to [closet/shelf]. Ask before leaving items in the garage or yard. |
| How we raise concerns | Bring small issues up within a few days, calmly and in writing if needed. Either person can request a short check-in conversation once a month. |
For utility splits, decide equal headcount vs weighted shares before move-in. The Bill Split Calculator helps you show the math.
What not to put in house rules (fair housing)
Rules should describe conduct and shared-space logistics, not who someone is. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability (HUD overview). Many states and cities add more protected classes.
- Do not write rules that prefer or exclude people by protected class (for example, “Christians only,” “no children,” or rules aimed at disability status).
- Do not use rules as a backdoor for illegal screening questions about race, religion, family status, or similar topics.
- Do write neutral conduct rules: quiet hours, guest limits, no indoor smoking, cleaning expectations, parking.
- Accessibility: if someone requests a reasonable accommodation related to disability, get qualified local guidance rather than inventing a blanket ban in your rules list.
How to enforce house rules without drama
- Put rules in the agreement both people sign before keys and money change hands.
- Walk through the rules on move-in day so nobody can say they never saw them.
- Raise small issues early with a calm, specific note (what happened, which rule, what you need next time).
- Keep the same standard for everyone, including your own guests and habits in shared spaces.
- Use the written notice and ending process in your agreement if serious or repeated problems continue. Local notice rules vary.
Printable / copyable house rules template
Copy the template below into a doc, or start from the House Rules Builder and paste the result here. This template is a communication aid, not a lease.
HOUSE RULES (ROOM RENTAL) Home address: ______________________________ Host: ____________________ Renter: ____________________ Effective date: ____________ 1) Quiet hours: ________________________________________________ 2) Guests / overnight visitors: _________________________________ 3) Kitchen and food: ____________________________________________ 4) Cleaning / chores: ___________________________________________ 5) Bathroom: ____________________________________________________ 6) Rent due date and payment method: ____________________________ 7) Utilities and bill split: ____________________________________ (Model options: https://roomrental.com/tools/bill-split-calculator/) 8) Internet / work-from-home: ___________________________________ 9) Parking: _____________________________________________________ 10) Smoking / vaping: ___________________________________________ 11) Pets: _______________________________________________________ 12) Keys / safety: ______________________________________________ 13) Packages / mail: ____________________________________________ 14) Shared supplies: ____________________________________________ 15) Storage / common areas: _____________________________________ 16) How we raise concerns: ______________________________________ We both agree these rules are part of our written room arrangement. Host signature / date: ______________________ Renter signature / date: ____________________
Common questions
Can I set rules for someone renting a room?
Yes, you can set clear house rules about shared spaces, guests, quiet hours, cleaning, smoking, pets, parking and similar day-to-day topics, as long as the rules are applied consistently and do not discriminate under fair housing law (HUD Fair Housing Act overview). Put the rules in writing before move-in.
Are house rules legally binding?
House rules are clearest when they are part of (or attached to) a written room rental agreement both people sign. On their own, a casual list in a text thread is easier to dispute. Whether a court treats a given rule as enforceable depends on your state, the agreement language, and the facts. This page is not legal advice.
What should house rules include?
Cover the topics that cause most friction: rent and bills due dates, guests and overnight visitors, quiet hours, kitchen and cleaning, smoking and vaping, pets, parking, shared supplies, package handling, and how either person raises a concern. Use the sample list and template on this page, then customize with the House Rules Builder.
This guide provides general educational information, not legal advice. House rules and room agreements must follow your state and local law and fair housing requirements. Confirm anything that matters with a qualified local professional.
Ready to customize?
Build a clean draft, then attach it to your written room agreement before you advertise.
Open the House Rules Builder Back to the 13-step guide