Should the roommate with the bigger room pay more rent?
Guilty
The short answer
Yes, in most households. A bigger room, a private bathroom or a walk-in closet is worth more, and the rent split should reflect it.
The ruling
From the public record. Names are replaced with roles.
Small claims division
Case no.PC-2026-06008
The roommate in the smaller room v. The roommate who took the master bedroom
Filed 10/19/2026
- Plaintiff
- The roommate in the smaller room
- Defendant
- The roommate who took the master bedroom
Statement of claim
My room fits a bed and a desk if the door stays open. My roommate's room has a walk-in closet and its own bathroom. We pay the same rent. He calls it fair because we both have one key.
Charge
Occupation of the largest bedroom and its private bathroom at the price of the smallest
Judgment
Guilty
Roommate found guilty of paying small-room rent for the master bedroom
Sentence
The defendant pays $75 more per month from the next rent date, and the plaintiff gets first choice of shelf space in the kitchen.
How the court usually rules on this
The court usually splits rent by room size or by features, not by headcount. A private bathroom and a door to the balcony count as features. When roommates agreed on an equal split before moving in, the court holds them to it until the lease renews. A roommate who chose the best room first and then insisted on equal shares is usually found guilty.
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