How should roomates breakdown the rent on a 3 bedroom apartment?

I am thinking of renting an apartment with a very good friend. We agreed to split utilities in 1/2. The thing is he has part time custody of his 2 daughters and wants a 3 bedroom apartment. I feel that since all bedrooms are the same its fair for each bedroom to be worth 1/3 of the rent. Which means 1/3 for me and 2/3 for him. He says that I should be paying more since I have the use of a nicer, bigger house. I always thought rent on an apartment was divided strictly by bedroom. It doesn't seem like a good deal for me to pay more because he wants an extra bedroom for when his children sleep over. My question is how would you split the rent in this situation. Thanks :)

I said all bedrooms were equal. Im not sure where any of you got that I was getting a bigger bedroom. Also I will not be using or benefitting from his kids bedroom in any way shape or form whether or not they are there.

If a larger apartment is being rented so his kids can stay, and otherwise a 2 bedroom would suffice, then he should pay the difference. Find out what an equivalent 2 bedroom apartment rents for...then split that price between the 2 of you and he pays the add'l difference for the extra bedroom.

Example: If a 2 bedroom is $600 and a 3 bedroom is $700 then he should pay half the 2 bed price plus the extra bedroom ($300 + 100 = $400).

You don't have use of a "nicer bigger house ", because the extra bedroom isn't for your use and if there's a bit more square footage in the (rest of the) apt, you apparently didn't need it.

I've had different friends live together in the past couple of years. Each of my friends that had kids living at home paid an extra portion of the rent, for their kid. (2/3 of the rent instead of 1/2).

i would say he pay 2 rooms...or talk to him and see what he suggests!!.......if you cant come to an agreement, then dont move in with him, or tell him you are only paying for 1 room for yourself, and it is up to him, if he wants an extra room...when you rent an apartment, they determine the rent by how many rooms!...why should you have to pay!!...they are not your kids!!...and as a mother of two kids...i would never ask someone to pay extra for my kids to have a room!...they are my responsibility! ...but since you got the big room, maybe you could pay a little more on the utilities or something!.......

Break it down in One..
Get your own..
Like me..

If you get the master bedroom and ensuite, then I suppose you could pay half the rent as well as the utilities.

Otherwise I don't think I would want to even live with him. Three bedroom places often have very unequally sized bedrooms - one large and two small, whereas two bedroom places usually have similar-sized rooms.

You would be better off sharing a two-bedroom place with a single person, or in a one-bedroom place by yourself.

Plus his argument holds no water. If you were getting a house instead of an apartment, maybe. But a three-bedroom apartment is no bigger to live in than a two-bedroom one, if you aren't given access to the third bedroom.

I think that the compromise is that you pay half the bills. Otherwise you should pay no more than 1/3 of the rent. He is getting a nice house, two bedrooms and half the utilities paid. If this is not good enough for him, tell him to do it alone.

Let him rent himself a nother place, and I'd find me another friend to split the rent with. One without children.

i agree. rent should be split by bedroom. i can't believe he said it should be even b/c you get to live in a nicer house...

if he doesn't like paying for 2/3, then find another roommate or suggest moving to a 2 bedroom apartment. see how he feels about that.

Do you mean you get to use a bigger, nicer room instead of house? Lets say your room is bigger and nicer. But, he has 2 rooms and you got 1. So, those 2 rooms are comparable to your 1 room. I think you should split the rent in half. But, he should pay 2/3 of the utility bills. Why is he so concerned about the rent? Is it because of the 2 kids? Raising kids are very expensive and maybe that's why he wants you to pay more. I don't know whether or not you have lived with somebody with kids before. It is going to change your life style. If I were you I would not move in with him. Get your own place.

if its just you and him and his kids then yeh he needs to pay 3/4 rent and you a quarter there is one of u and 3 from his side with his kids over that will increase all utilities and limit space for u so he should definatly pay most the rent yeh or lmost u go is 1/3 butdont go in half on him no way but if there are problems already there are more to come and i watched judge mathis it could ruin your friendship..

To be fair to both, you should pay 1/2 of the utilities and an amount equal to the rent you would pay for one room in a 2 bedroom apartment. But any other arrangement is good if you really are "very good friends".

he's the one that wants a bigger place.... and dividing it up by thirds .. is fair...if it is going to go in that direction for a three bedroom ..........

........... if its part time custody .. you could still get a 2 bedroom . and divide the rent in half .. just like the utilities.. .. kids can sleep on the couch .. or cots... since its only part time ... and they are not living there

and like the others have said.. have things in writing .. to avoid later problems...

Since his children will only be 'visiting' and not living there full time, you should split the rent in half on the days you are 'just the two of you' and you pay only 1/3 on the days the girls are staying overnight. THAT is the 'fairest way' to do this ... and your roommate will be more likely to pay that 'little bit' extra instead of paying for 2/3 of a three bedroom house that he is really only using half of most of the time. Work the math out together ... and then write a contract with the 'agreed upon equation' included and have it signed by BOTH of you in front of a notary ... that way, you will 'both' be 'obliged' to keep the contract or 'renegotiate' a new one.

i think that your friend should be paying for two bed rooms because his using two bed room i don't think you should have to pay for something that your not helping use it. Thats like saying my friends get a car in her name and won't let me drive it anywhere but i can ride in it but she wants me to help her pay for it because i ride in it. I don't think so. And if it was me if he didn't like it he can get a two bed room apartment for his self and pay a lot more then he would if you guys where sharing.

id say you 1/3 him 2/3 on the rent. and 1/2 1/2 for utilities. and if it would make him feel better and you wouldnt mind, maybe pick up 2/3 of the utilites.~~?
they are his kids and his responsibility to pay for their part of the house. not yours.

I think if you are getting the master bedroom with your own bathroom, then you should pay more than 1/3. If the rent is 1000, you should pay 400, and he should pay 600. It would not be fair for you to pay as much as he has to pay, but I do not think it is fair for him to get stuck paying 2/3 while you only pay 1/3, because you will be getting the best room.. which will likely have a bathroom within it. Also, everything else will be split, kitchen, laundry, living areas.. so to me, that is fair.

dont pay more than 1/3

Its not a good deal. he should pay more. he is getting more use out of the place... the utilities should be split but the rent should be equal per room....

1/2 AND 1/2

Cut him some slack and if you notice he starts making more money mention it to him asking if he could pay more money