Roommate Agreements, and Breaking Up When Things Go Badly

Susan had no idea what she was in for when her roommate Lisa moved in. During the waking hours Lisa was very shy and quiet, and seemed like she'd make an OK roommate. However, when the lights went out Lisa suffered from vivid nightmares and would bang her head against the headboard throughout the night. Susan was afraid to wake her roommate because Lisa would be saying "I'm going to kill you" in her sleep. At the end of the lease, Susan was more than happy to part company with Lisa and find a new roommate.

Finding a roommate is kind of like finding a spouse. You never really know them until you live with them. It's important to establish what you're looking for in a roommate, but even more important to be clear on what you don't want. Even the most diligent person can run into problems.