Roommates
Can I kick out my roommate?
Updated By the Housing Rocket moderators
Short answer
Usually not on your own. If your roommate is on the lease, they have the same right to live there as you, and only the landlord can remove them through eviction. If they rent from you and are not on the lease, you may be able to end the arrangement with proper written notice, depending on your state.
The answer depends on who has the legal right to be there:
- Both on the lease: you cannot force them out. Your options are negotiating a move-out, asking the landlord to release them and accept a replacement, or leaving yourself.
- You hold the lease and they rent a room from you: you are in the landlord's position. Many states require written notice, and if they refuse to go, a formal eviction through the courts. Rules for renting a room in your own home can be different.
- Nobody signed anything: they may still have tenant rights if they have lived there and paid rent for a while. Check your state's rules before acting.
Whatever the situation, do not change the locks, remove their belongings or shut off utilities. So-called self-help evictions are illegal in most states and can leave you owing them money.
Most roommate exits are negotiated, not forced. Offering to help find their replacement, returning their deposit share promptly, or letting them leave early without paying the remaining rent often gets a faster result than any legal route. A local tenant organization or legal aid office can explain your state's notice rules.
Want the whole picture? Read How to Find a Roommate You Can Actually Live With.