Shared Household Guest Policy Template

Guest policies are where many roommate relationships hit their first real test. One person's casual friend staying over is another person's stranger in their home. A clear policy prevents these awkward situations.

This template covers three types of guests: daytime visitors coming over for dinner or hanging out, overnight guests staying one or more nights, and extended stays longer than three nights which effectively adds a household member.

For daytime visitors, give roommates a heads-up if you are having people over especially in shared spaces. Be mindful of quiet hours and other people's work-from-home schedules during the day.

For overnight guests, most households require 24-hour advance notice and limit overnight stays to 2-3 consecutive nights. More than that should be discussed as a house. Guests should respect house rules and shared spaces.

For parties or gatherings, give at least one week's notice and get explicit agreement from all roommates. Establish cleanup expectations upfront where the person who hosts cleans up within 24 hours.

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