--- title: What should I do if my roommates damage the common area? description: If you or a roommate damage a common area, submit a maintenance request with evidence promptly. --- [Skip to content](https://help.alcoverooms.com/what-should-i-do-if-my-roommates-damage-the-common-area#main-content) [![logotypesvg](https://help.alcoverooms.com/hubfs/logotypesvg.svg)](https://alcoverooms.com) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Visit Alcove](https://alcoverooms.com/) [Visit Alcove](https://alcoverooms.com/) Welcome to Alcove. How can we help? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Help Center](https://help.alcoverooms.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [FAQ for Tenants](https://help.alcoverooms.com/faq-for-tenants?hsLang=en) 3. [Maintenance Issues and Requests](https://help.alcoverooms.com/faq-for-tenants?hsLang=en#maintenance-issues-and-requests) # What should I do if my roommates damage the common area? ## If you or a roommate damage a common area, submit a maintenance request with evidence promptly. If you or your roommate have damaged a common area, please submit a maintenance request as soon as possible to ensure the issue is addressed promptly and to avoid any potential delays or extra costs. For guidance on how to submit a support ticket, please see: [Who do I contact if I have a maintenance request?](https://help.alcoverooms.com/who-do-i-contact-if-i-have-a-maintenance-request?hsLang=en) When submitting the request, be sure to provide evidence of the damage early on to help us determine who is responsible. If it’s clear that a specific roommate caused the damage, the landlord can submit evidence to Alcove to start the reimbursement process. If it's not obvious who caused the damage, especially in common areas, Alcove will investigate by: 1. Sending a payment owed email to all roommates and reviewing their responses. 2. Conducting a general property inspection. 3. Gathering any relevant landlord-tenant communication. If the investigation does not identify the responsible party, all tenants will be held equally responsible in accordance with the roommate agreement:  *"Common Areas: Roommates are expected to take shared and equal responsibility for keeping the common areas of the dwelling clean, tidy, in good repair, and livable."* For more details, visit [Reimbursement process for maintenance due to damage caused by housemates.](https://help.alcoverooms.com/what-is-the-reimbursement-process-or-services/maintenance-needed-due-to-damage-caused-by-housemates?hsLang=en) - [FAQ for Applicants / Prospective Tenants](https://help.alcoverooms.com/faq-for-applicants-prospective-tenants?hsLang=en#main-content) - [What's Alcove?](https://help.alcoverooms.com/faq-for-applicants-prospective-tenants?hsLang=en#whats-alcove) - [Application Process](https://help.alcoverooms.com/faq-for-applicants-prospective-tenants?hsLang=en#application-process) - [Application & Platform Fees](https://help.alcoverooms.com/faq-for-applicants-prospective-tenants?hsLang=en#application-platform-fees) - 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