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A Co-living Agreement sets out the rights and responsibilities of people sharing a living space in New Zealand. It covers key aspects like rent payments, utilities, shared spaces, cleaning duties, guest policies, and how to handle disputes between housemates.

Think of it as a detailed roadmap for harmonious shared living - similar to a residential tenancy agreement, but focused on the relationship between co-living residents rather than landlord and tenant. While not legally required, these agreements help prevent misunderstandings and provide clear guidelines under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 for resolving common household issues.

Use a Co-living Agreement when setting up any shared living arrangement in New Zealand, especially before new flatmates move in. This agreement becomes particularly important for house shares with multiple tenants, student accommodations, or when joining an existing flat where responsibilities need clear definition.

The perfect time to create this agreement is during the initial flat meetings or tenant screening process. It helps prevent future disputes by establishing clear expectations about rent splits, bond arrangements, maintenance duties, and common area usage. Having these terms documented upfront saves significant hassle compared to sorting out disagreements after everyone has moved in.

• Basic Co-living Agreement: Covers essential shared living terms for 2-3 flatmates, focusing on rent, utilities, and basic house rules
• Comprehensive Flat Agreement: Detailed version with expanded sections on property maintenance, guest policies, and conflict resolution
• Student Co-living Agreement: Tailored for academic schedules, with flexible terms for holiday periods and study-friendly quiet hours
• Fixed-term Co-living Agreement: Specific duration arrangements with clear entry and exit terms, ideal for temporary living situations
• House Share Plus Business Agreement: For situations where flatmates also run home-based businesses or remote work

• Flatmates/Co-tenants: Primary parties who live together and agree to follow the shared living terms and responsibilities
• Lead Tenant: Often the person who deals with the landlord and coordinates rent payments for the group
• Property Managers: May help draft or review agreements to ensure alignment with their building's policies
• Student Housing Officers: Frequently provide template agreements for university-adjacent housing arrangements
• Legal Advisors: Sometimes consulted to review terms, especially for complex shared living situations or high-value properties

• Property Details: Gather full address, room allocations, and any specific areas designated as private or shared
• Financial Information: Document rent amounts, payment schedules, utility splits, and bond arrangements
• House Rules: List agreed expectations about cleaning, guests, noise, smoking, and shared facilities usage
• Personal Information: Collect full names, contact details, and emergency contacts for all flatmates
• Review Process: Have all flatmates read and discuss the draft agreement before finalizing
• Documentation: Save copies of signed agreements and supporting documents in a secure location

• Identification Section: Full names and contact details of all co-living parties and the property address
• Financial Terms: Rent amounts, payment schedules, bond arrangements, and utility cost sharing methods
• Duration Clause: Start date, end date (if fixed-term), and notice periods for leaving
• House Rules: Clear guidelines on shared spaces, cleaning duties, guests, noise, and peaceful enjoyment
• Dispute Resolution: Agreed process for handling conflicts between flatmates
• Signatures: Space for all parties to sign, date, and acknowledge agreement terms

A Co-living Agreement differs significantly from an Agency Agreement in several key ways. While both are legal contracts, they serve very different purposes in New Zealand's legal framework.

• Primary Purpose: Co-living Agreements manage relationships between flatmates sharing a living space, while Agency Agreements establish a business relationship where one party acts on behalf of another
• Legal Framework: Co-living Agreements operate under residential tenancy laws, whereas Agency Agreements fall under commercial and contract law
• Parties Involved: Co-living involves equal participants sharing living arrangements, while Agency Agreements create principal-agent relationships with clear hierarchies
• Duration and Terms: Co-living Agreements typically align with lease periods and focus on daily living arrangements, while Agency Agreements often relate to specific business transactions or ongoing representation