Many consumers, including students and roommates, require proof of residency letters from time to time. The letter can be written by landlords, a roommate, or even parents or other family members. In many situations, the letter must be accompanied by secondary information supporting the address. Lease agreements, paychecks, utility bills, and other documents showing your name and address must be the same as indicated on your proof of residency letter. If you are unable to provide additional information supporting the letter, you may need to have the letter notarized.
Additional information is provided in the following paragraphs about proof of residency letter from roommates and how to write it.
What Is a Proof of Residency Letter from a Roommate?
Proof of residency letter from a roommate is prepared by the roommate or yourself to provide information about the place you reside, including the state. It is a legal document that is signed by the person providing the proof of residence, in this case, a roommate that you live with.
The proof of residence letter is often required by many government programs and agencies, insurance companies, and universities whenever a consumer is applying for benefits and support programs. Always check with these agencies to ensure you understand exactly what is needed to meet their criteria. In addition to the proof of residency letter from a roommate, they may also require secondary evidence, such as a bank statement, utility bill, etc., confirming your name and the address is shown on your letter.
Some agencies require a notarized letter of residency from a roommate in addition to secondary proof mentioned in the previous paragraph.
Essential Elements of a Roommate Proof of Residency Letter
Proof of residency letter can act as a cover letter for documents you include to support your residency, or you can arrange for the letter to be notarized. All proof of residency letters must include the following details to support your residency claims and the support programs etc.; you may be applying for.
- Your complete name and current address must be included in the letter
- Your address must match government records and government-issued documents
- Any documents included as supporting information must include the company’s logo, name and address, and your name and your current address
- The documents must be current. In most cases, they should not be older than three months; however, check with the agency you are sending the proof of residency.
- You may need to provide a minimum of two supporting documents, and they must correspond with your name and address shown on your proof of residency letter.
How to Write a Proof of Residency Letter?
Include your full name and residency in your letter. Make a declaration on your letter indicating your address and how long you have lived at this location. It should be your current address. Include a list of supporting documents that will be included with the letter.
Provide room for signatures for yourself and your witnesses. Your witnesses should be allowed to review the supporting documents to ensure they agree with the information contained in the letter.
If you require your letter to be notarized, add space for the notary.
Note: all signatures must be completed at the same time to allow the witnesses and notary to witness your signature and review the documents.
Proof of Residency Letter from a Roommate (Template)?
The following is a typical template for proof of residency letter from a template:
[Your Name]
[Your current address, including the state and zip code]
[Date the letter will be signed]
To whom this may concern
I, [Your full name], live at the following address [Add your complete address where you have been living, including unit number, street address, city, state, and zip code] from [Date you took up residence at home].
I have attached several documents supporting my residency for your consideration:
[Provide and list at least two documents if possible] (Note: these documents must show your full name and current address)
Sincerely
[Your signature]
[Your full name printed]
Witnessed
I/we have witnessed the aforementioned claims made by [Your Name] and confirm their residency status.
Witness signature
[ Signature] [Date]
[Printed name of witness]
Witness signature
[ Signature] [Date]
[Printed name of witness]
State of [State Name]
County of [Name of County]
If you must have your letter and documents notarized by a notary, include the following in your letter. Note: the notary may have a specific language they wish to include in the letter.
Notary Section
On [Date], [Your Name] appeared before me, [Notaries Name], Notary Public, and proved to me based on satisfactory evidence to the person(s) whose name(s) is/are subscribed to be within this instrument and acknowledge to me that he/she/they executed this document in his/her/their authorized capacities and by their signatures on this instrument the person(s), executed this instrument.
I certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of in the state of [Name of State] that the foregoing paragraphs are true and correct.
[provide space for Notary Seal]
[Signature]
[Print Name]
Sample Proof of Residency Letter from a Roommate
The following is a sample proof of residency letter from a roommate:
[Recipients Name]
[Recipients address, including the state and zip code]
[Date the letter will be signed]
Dear [Recipients name or To Whom it May Concern]
Regarding Proof of Residency for [Your full name]
I am [Your full name] roommate and live at the following address [Add your complete address where you have been living, including unit number, street address, city, state, and zip code]. I have lived with [your roommate’s name] from [Date you took up residence with your roommate].
During this time frame, he/she assisted with various payments, including rent, utilities, and food.
I have attached several documents supporting his/her residency for your consideration:
[Provide and list at least two documents] (Note: these documents must show his / her full name and current address) e.g.
[Lease agreement]
[Utility bills]
Sincerely
[Your signature]
[Your full name printed]
Witnessed
I/we have witnessed the aforementioned claims made by [Your Roommates Name] and confirm their residency status.
Witness signature
[ Signature] [Date]
[Printed name of witness]
Witness signature
[ Signature] [Date]
[Printed name of witness]
State of [State Name]
County of [Name of County]
If you must have your letter and documents notarized by a notary, include the following in your letter. Note: the notary may have a specific language they wish to include in the letter.
Sample Proof of residency (Living with a Friend)
The following is a sample of proof of residency letter while living with a friend:
[Recipients Name]
[Recipients address, including the state and zip code]
[Date the letter will be signed]
Dear [Recipients name or to Whom It May Concern]
Regarding Proof of Residency for [Your full name]
I am writing on behalf of my friend [Name], who has been living with me at the following address [Provide address], since [Date]. He/she resided with me at [provide full address]
During this time frame, he/she assisted with various payments, including rent, utilities, and food.
Please contact me at [phone number] if there are any questions.
Sincerely
[Your signature]
[Your full name printed]
Witnessed
I/we have witnessed the aforementioned claims made by [Your Roommates Name] and confirm their residency status.
Witness signature
[ Signature] [Date]
[Printed name of witness]
Witness signature
[ Signature] [Date]
[Printed name of witness]
State of [State Name]
County of [Name of County]
If you must have your letter and documents notarized by a notary, include the following in your letter. Note: the notary may have a specific language they wish to include in the letter.
FAQs
The following are some of the FAQs asked about proof of residency letters:
Yes, however, the letter must contain accurate information about your name and address and be drafted by a person well known to you.
Passports prove your citizenship of the country you reside in. However, your passport contains your current permeant address, which may not be the address of your friend or roommate and cannot be used in these situations. If the passport is out of date or does not show your current address, the passport must be renewed with the correct address before it can be used.
Yes, if the pay stub contains your current and complete address, i.e., the address of your roommate.
Key Points
The proof of residency letter from a roommate is important for many consumers. You must have an accurate, valid, transparent letter provided in a timely fashion.
Always confirm with the government or private agency you are dealing with regarding the letter requirements before preparing the letter and asking for witnesses. For example, do you need a notary to guarantee the letter? How many copies are needed?
Several important things to keep in mind when preparing a proof of residency letter are as follows:
Transparency – always ensure that the information you provide in the letter can be verified and correct. Government agencies and private companies receiving proof of residency letters may verify and corroborate the facts stated in your letter.
Accuracy – keep your letter factual and accurate. Avoid any exaggeration and only provide the details needed in your letter. Be prepared to provide supporting documents.
Timeliness – always meet the timelines requested for applications you are making.
Don’t take the preparation of the letter for granted – if you are uncomfortable preparing your letter, use a template or arrange for a lawyer to help you; however, this approach may be too expensive for many consumers.
