Four’s a Party, Five’s a Crowd: Setting Rules on Visitors

November 1, 2013 | By Melissa AuthorMy First Apartment

When you live in a shared space, how do you decide on a fair guest policy? Some people love a crowd, they truly believe in the more the merrier, and are happy with friends passed out on every square foot of their apartment on a regular basis. Others prefer personal space and would rather check…

Roommates and Overnight Guests:Tips to Avoid Problems

January 28, 2013 | By doug AuthorMy First Apartment

Ben Franklin may have known about electricity, politics, bifocals and one or two other things, but one of his more overlooked gifts to posterity is this immortal observation: “Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.” What he didn’t say is this: If they’re your roommate’s guests, rather than your own, the smell can…

Roommate Agreement Checklist

November 23, 2005 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

Want to set some ground rules among roommates? Use our Roommate Agreement Check List as a guideline for a discussion about sharing rent and expenses, work schedules, interests, significant others, visitors, pets, etc.