Most failed roommate situations don't fail because someone is a bad person. They fail because two reasonable people had different unspoken expectations and never had the awkward conversation up front.
This is that conversation, organized as a checklist. Run through it before you sign anything — ideally in person, with notes. The 60 minutes you spend now saves you 6 months of resentment later.
Money — the single biggest source of conflict
Rent split
Decide whether rent is split:
- Equally (simplest, fairest if rooms are similar)
- Proportional to room size (fair when one room is noticeably larger)
- Proportional to income (uncommon but appropriate when incomes are very different)
Write down the exact peso amount each person pays.
Utilities and shared costs
Make a list of every recurring bill:
- Electricity (CFE)
- Internet (Telmex/Totalplay/Izzi)
- Water (often included in rent in CDMX, separate elsewhere)
- Gas (often pre-paid tank or piped)
- Streaming subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify, etc.)
- Cleaning supplies and household basics (paper towels, dish soap)
Decide who pays what, when bills are due, and how reimbursement works. Splitwise or a shared note works fine — just be consistent.
Move-in costs
Furniture, kitchen items, cleaning supplies. Decide if you'll split equally, each buys their own, or one person buys and the other reimburses. Keep receipts.
What happens when one person leaves
Is the leaving person responsible for finding a replacement? Do they cover rent until someone else moves in? This is the conversation no one wants to have at signing — and it's the one that saves both of you when reality changes.
Living habits — the second biggest source of conflict
Cleaning
Be specific:
- What counts as clean? Common areas wiped down weekly? Or just "not visibly dirty"?
- Whose dishes are whose? Wash immediately, or "by end of day"?
- Bathrooms: rotation? Every two weeks? On a calendar?
- Trash: who takes it out, and on what day?
If your standards are very different, this is the time to say so. "I'm a clean person" means nothing — show photos of your current bedroom or kitchen.
Noise and sleep
- What time does each person typically go to bed?
- Is the apartment quiet after 10pm? 11pm? Midnight?
- Headphones for late-night calls or video?
- Weekends — same rules or relaxed?
Guests
- Overnight guests: ok how often? Always-welcome, or with notice?
- Romantic partners: is there a "they live here now" line you both want to set?
- Parties: how many people, how often, what notice?
The lease itself
Whose name is on the contract?
Three options:
- Both names — both legally responsible for full rent. Safest for the landlord, most stable for you.
- One name, the other as occupant — the named tenant is fully on the hook. Rare in formal Mexican rentals.
- Sublease — discouraged unless the lease explicitly allows it.
Make sure the lease arrangement matches reality.
Aval (guarantor) for foreigners
If you're an expat, you may not have an aval. Discuss whether your roommate's aval covers you, whether you'll use a póliza jurídica, or whether you'll pay extra deposit. Don't assume.
Length of lease
Lock in a 12-month standard lease unless you both want flexibility. Month-to-month sounds nice but creates churn.
Pets
Even if no one currently has a pet, decide the rule now:
- Pets allowed, allowed-with-deposit, or not allowed?
- Who's responsible for cleaning, vet bills, and damage?
- What if a romantic partner brings their pet?
Communication norms
How will you handle problems?
- Agree to bring up issues directly within 48 hours of them happening
- No passive-aggressive notes, no third-party complaints
- Schedule a 15-minute check-in once a month for the first three months
That last one sounds excessive. It isn't. The roommates who do it have far fewer blowups.
Write it down
This isn't a contract you'll sue over. It's a shared document — a Google Doc or note — that captures what you both agreed. When something comes up later ("I thought we said no overnight guests"), you have something to point to instead of a memory war.
Red flags before you sign
If during this conversation a potential roommate:
- Resists giving specific answers ("we'll figure it out")
- Hand-waves about money ("I'm always good for it")
- Tells you they've had three roommates in the last year
- Pressures you to skip the formal lease
…take it as data. The version you see now is the best version. Don't expect it to improve under stress.
The Nido Urbano approach
When you match with a roomie on Nido Urbano, the AI surfaces lifestyle compatibility on the dimensions above — sleep schedule, cleaning preferences, guest comfort, pet status, work-from-home intensity. Use that as a starting point, then have this conversation in person before committing.
A great roommate situation is one of the best things that can happen to your year. A bad one is one of the worst. The difference is one honest conversation, on time.
