30 Questions to Ask a Roommate Before Moving In

The best questions to ask a roommate cover eight areas: money, cleaning, guests, sleep and noise, pets, food, working from home and deal-breakers. Ask for specific examples rather than yes-or-no answers, share your own habits too, and write down what you agree on before anyone signs a lease or moves in.

Below are 30 questions you can copy into your notes, grouped by topic, with what a good answer tends to sound like and the replies that should make you pause.

Key takeaways

• Money first. Rent, bills and what happens if someone can't pay cause the most serious problems.
• Ask for examples. "How often do you clean the bathroom?" beats "Are you clean?"
• Go both ways. Answer every question yourself, too. Honesty is contagious.
• Listen for flexibility, not perfect answers. Nobody matches you on everything.
• Write it down. Turn your answers into a simple roommate agreement.

How to run the conversation

Start with a 20 to 30 minute video call, then meet in person, ideally at the place you'd share. Keep it relaxed: you're both interviewing each other. A few tips:

• Send a handful of questions ahead so it doesn't feel like an interrogation.
• Share your own quirks first ("I'm up at 6 a.m. and I run the blender").
• Take notes. After three or four calls, people start to blur together.
• If you're meeting a stranger, choose a public place or bring a friend.

Money and bills (questions 1–6)

1. What's your monthly budget for rent, and how do you usually pay it? Look for a clear number and a stable source of income, savings or support.
2. Have you ever paid rent late or had trouble covering a bill? What happened? Honesty here is a good sign; everyone has had a tight month.
3. How would you like to split rent if the rooms aren't the same size? Our guide to splitting rent fairly has methods you can suggest.
4. How should we split utilities and internet, and who sets up the accounts?
5. Do you want to share household basics like dish soap and toilet paper, or buy your own?
6. If one of us can't pay on time, what should happen? You want a plan, not a shrug.

Pause if: they're vague about income, want to pay in cash with no record, or bristle at the idea of tracking shared costs.

Cleaning and chores (questions 7–10)

7. What does "clean" look like to you in the kitchen and bathroom?
8. How often do you think shared spaces should be cleaned, and would you prefer a rota?
9. How long is it okay for dishes to sit in the sink?
10. How do you feel about clutter in shared spaces like the living room or hallway?

Pause if: they say "I'm pretty chill about mess" and you're not, or they can't give a single concrete example of how they keep a space tidy.

Guests and partners (questions 11–14)

11. How often do you usually have friends over?
12. How do you feel about overnight guests, and how many nights a week feels reasonable?
13. Do you have a partner who would visit often? Would they ever stay for long stretches?
14. Should we give each other a heads-up before inviting people over?

Pause if: a partner effectively lives there without paying, or they won't agree to any limits on long-term guests. Long stays can also matter to your landlord, so it's worth checking your lease.

Sleep, noise and routines (questions 15–19)

15. What time do you usually go to bed and get up on weekdays and weekends?
16. Do you work shifts, nights or irregular hours?
17. What are reasonable quiet hours for you?
18. Do you play music, games or instruments, or take loud calls? Do you use headphones?
19. How do you feel about the thermostat, open windows and air conditioning?

Pause if: your schedules clash and neither of you is willing to adjust, for example a night-shift worker paired with someone who hosts late game nights.

Pets and allergies (questions 20–21)

20. Do you have a pet now, or plan to get one?
21. Do you have any allergies or fears around animals?

In Ontario, a lease clause banning pets is generally not enforceable for most rentals covered by the Residential Tenancies Act, but condo rules can still restrict animals, and a roommate's allergy is a real constraint. Settle this before you sign anything.

Food and the kitchen (questions 22–24)

22. How often do you cook, and do you cook foods with strong smells?
23. Do you want to share groceries or meals sometimes, or keep everything separate?
24. Do you have dietary rules (for example halal, kosher, vegetarian, allergies) that affect how we share cookware or fridge space?

Pause if: they expect to borrow food freely and you don't, or there's no flexibility on shared fridge space.

Working and studying from home (questions 25–27)

25. How many days a week do you work or study from home?
26. Where would you work: your room, the kitchen table, the living room?
27. Do you need quiet during calls or exams, and how should we signal that?

Pause if: they plan to take over the living room every weekday and you were counting on using it.

Lifestyle and deal-breakers (questions 28–30)

28. Do you smoke, vape or use cannabis, and where?
29. How do you prefer to handle a disagreement: talk in person, message first, or something else?
30. What's one thing a past roommate did that you never want to deal with again?

Question 30 is often the most revealing. It tells you what matters most to them and how they talk about other people.

Green flags vs. red flags

How to weigh the answers

No one will match you on all 30 questions, and that's fine. What matters is which differences you can live with. A simple way to decide:

• Sort your topics into three groups: must match (for many people, rent reliability and smoking), can compromise (cleaning standards, guests), and don't care (food sharing, thermostat).
• Score each candidate only on the "must match" and "can compromise" groups. A candidate who is perfect on small things but shaky on rent is a riskier choice than one who is a bit messy but has paid rent on time for years.
• Notice the tone, not just the content. Someone who says "I'm not great at dishes, but a rota would help me" is easier to live with than someone who claims to be spotless and gets defensive when you ask for detail.
• Sleep on it. If you feel rushed, that's information too.

Questions they'll probably ask you

A good potential roommate will interview you right back. Have honest answers ready for:

• Your income or funding source, and how you'll pay on time
• Your schedule, including exams, shifts or travel
• How often you have guests and whether you have a partner who visits
• Your cleaning habits and anything you're particular about
• Why you're leaving your current place

If you're new to Canada and don't have a local rental history, say so upfront and explain what you can offer instead, such as a reference from a previous landlord abroad or proof of funds. Being open about it builds trust faster than avoiding the topic.

Your quick checklist

Use this after each meeting:

• Budget and move-in date match
• Clear plan for splitting rent, utilities and internet
• Similar standard of cleanliness, or a rota we both accept
• Guest and overnight rules we both agree on
• Compatible sleep and work schedules
• No pet or allergy conflict
• Reference checked
• Willing to sign a roommate agreement

If you're still finding candidates, our guide to finding a roommate in Toronto covers where to look and how to verify people. Once you've chosen, turn your answers into a roommate agreement for Ontario.

Skip the guesswork with ColivEase

ColivEase's AI matching compares habits, budget and schedule before you even start chatting, so many of these questions are answered up front. The "My Community" language filter helps you meet people who share your languages, and comic avatars keep your profile private until you both agree to share real photos. Find compatible roommates on ColivEase.