The Complete Guide to Roommate Guest Etiquette

Guests are one of the top sources of roommate conflict. Whether it's a partner who's basically moved in, a friend who crashes on the sofa every weekend, or a surprise visitor who shows up unannounced, the rules need to be clear.

The 24-hour rule is a good starting point: give your roommates at least 24 hours' notice before having any guest stay overnight. For longer stays (more than two nights), discuss it as a group.

Partners need special consideration. If someone's partner is staying over three or more nights per week, they're effectively a household member — and the conversation about contributing to rent and chores needs to happen honestly.

Parties require group planning. Agree on frequency (once a month? once a quarter?), noise limits, end times, and cleanup responsibilities. The host cleans up — that's non-negotiable.

Daytime guests are generally more flexible, but still deserve a heads-up. A quick text saying 'my friend's coming round for coffee this afternoon' is considerate and takes two seconds.

Set consequences for repeated violations. If someone consistently ignores the guest policy, it erodes trust. Address it early, kindly, and directly. Use HomeCo to document your agreed guest policy so there's no 'I didn't know' defence.

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