PRACTICAL VIEW : How to Make It Work for You

How do you increase the odds that life under the same roof with a stranger will bring happiness?

* You could use an agency. Some roommate referral services verify employment and references. And they survey homeowners and renters (Is smoking OK? Are pets OK?) to find compatible applicants.

* Take your time. “We suggest the homeowner and renter meet more than once before making a decision,” says Maxine Nelson, owner of RoomMate Finders. “Some people who have emotional problems can hold themselves together for a short period, but after a while the veneer starts coming off.”

* Put it in writing. Agencies recommend that landlords and roomers make written agreements in several areas, including the time rent is due, the cleaning of communal areas, the care of pets, the frequency of guests and the noise level of music or television.

* Assess whether you can talk things out if problems arise. The homeowner and applicant should find out whether they can communicate, says Terry Mundon.

“The attitude is, ‘Let’s always agree to talk about things, and not harbor anger so it explodes three months later,’ says Neil Klemow. “It’s a marriage of sorts. “I think eventually they’ll have roommate counseling.”