How much rent should a couple pay when sharing a room with roommates?

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A couple sharing one bedroom usually pays more than one person in a similar room, but less than two separate rooms. A common approach is charging the room's normal share plus an extra amount for the second person's use of shared space, and splitting utilities by head rather than by room. Two people in one room use the kitchen, bathroom and living room twice as much, but take up only one bedroom. A fair split reflects both. One method many households use: Work out the room's share as if one person lived in it, based on its size and features. Work out the shared-space portion per person, usually the common-area half of the rent divided by the number of people, not rooms. Charge the couple the room share plus one extra shared-space portion. Split utilities, internet and supplies per person. Example: $2,400 rent, two equal bedrooms, one person in each. Half ($1,200) is split for shared space, half by room. If a couple moves into one room and a single person is in the other, divide the shared half three ways ($400 each). The couple then pays their room's $600 plus $800 of shared space ($1,400) and the single roommate pays $600 plus $400 ($1,000). Decide whether both partners are on the lease and whether the couple is responsible for each other's share. If they split up mid-lease, you want to know who is staying and who is paying before it happens.

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