How do you divide rent between 4 people in a 3 bedroom apartment 2 single one couple?

Answer 1

Calculate the area of each bedroom, b(1), b(2) and b(3) where b1 is the double bedroom. Let b(1) + b(2) + b(3) = B

Suppose the floor areas of all the common areas in the flat, such as the living room, kitchen, bathroom, hall, etc. are c(1), c(2), ..., c(n) and that c(1)+c(2)+...+c(n) = C.

Determine how much time each person spends in these common areas. Suppose person p (p = 1, 2, 3 or 4 and where persons 1 and 2 are the couple) spends h(p,j) hours per day, on average, in common area j (j = 1, 2, ..., n).

Then the proportional occupancy of common area j, by person p is then

h(p,j)/[h(1,j)+h(2,j)+h(3,j)+h(4,j)] = i(p,j)

Then relative occupancy of all common area by person p is

sum[i(p,j)*c(i)]/C = S(p)

Therefore, the relative occupancy of the flat is

S(p) + b(p)

Now, before you move to the next step, you may wish to consider the following:

• if the ceiling heights are very different you may want to introduce a correction factor for room occupancy.
• you may also wish to make adjustments for - nearness to toilet, exposure to exterior noise/traffic sounds, number of windows.

Also, if a person spend time in a common area on behalf of others, for example, time spent in the kitchen cooking a meal for all, then that time must be shared out. On the other hand, if the food is inedible, you may wish to add a time factor.

Once all that is sorted, the four people should sit down together, maybe have a drink, and pick shares of rent that all can agree to. The four of you will probably be living together for several months and if you cannot agree on this then move out. NOW! You are not ready to share!