Table of Contents
How many tenants are allowed to live together?
Does every roommate have to sign the lease?
What are the leasing options for multiple tenants?
Sign a joint lease
Pros | Cons |
In a joint tenancy, each tenant has a direct relationship with the landlord. This means you can request repairs or discuss altering the lease . | You and your roommates will become jointly and severally liable for rent payments. If one roommate leaves without telling anyone, the others are still responsible for paying the total rent amount. |
Each tenant has equal rights and responsibilities regarding the lease. | If you act independently, you are still considered responsible along with your roommates. The same rule applies to property damage. |
| It is possible for everyone on the lease to face eviction because of one person. |
Sign individual leases
Pros | Cons |
You don’t have to worry about your roommate’s ability to pay their portion of the rent or other expenses. | You may not get a say in who you live with, as the landlord screens candidates and decides who will reside on the premises. |
You are not liable for lease violations by other tenants, whether causing major damage or breaking the lease. | You may pay a higher monthly rent due to the added risk for the landlord since they cannot pursue you for missed payments or damages caused by your roommate. |
In a joint lease, you and your roommates both have your names on the lease and share equal responsibility for damages and rent. In an individual lease, you are only responsible for your tenancy.
Sign a Roommate Agreement
Pros | Cons |
A written and signed contract will ensure that you and your fellow tenants are on the same page. This means less time spent on disputes about the dishes and more on your hobbies or interests. | Roommate Agreements can only hold sway in court for things like rent, security deposits, and other payment divisions. You can’t enforce rules about household chores in court . |
If executed correctly, Roommate Agreements are legally binding and can be held admissible in a court of law regarding payment and fees. |
What is a sublease?
Pros | Cons |
You may have a more flexible rental arrangement than a traditional fixed-term lease, which locks you in for a specific period. You can move out with little notice. | If you're subletting a room in a house, you may not exercise control over whom you live with, how to divide rent, or how to share common space. |
If the sublandlord has a written agreement with you, they must provide you with proper notice before asking you to leave. | You are still subject to the master lease or the lease that the sublandlord signed with their landlord. If the sublandlord is evicted, for example, then you can be evicted as well. |
Pros | Cons |
You can choose who you live with and have greater control over household management. | Sublandlords usually collect rent from subtenants to make one monthly payment to the landlord. If a subtenant cannot pay rent, you will have to come up with the money, as you’re still responsible for paying rent in full. |
You can evict subtenants as long as you provide written notice. | As the master tenant, you are also liable for the rental property's state and any damages caused by subtenants. |
In a Sublease Agreement, one tenant has their name on the lease. They are the sublandlord and are in direct communication with the landlord. The subtenants do not have their names on the lease and give rent to the sublandlord instead.
Helpful tips for finding the right roommates or tenants
- Put out an ad: You can post your ad on social media using Facebook Marketplace or on Reddit through your local subreddit. You can also use websites like Craigslist , Roomi , RoomieMatch , and SpareRoom , or through your alum network if you are a college or university graduate.
- Conduct a background check: You can check their references and ask questions about their character and experiences renting or working with them.
- Ask if they have any pets or are planning to: This can affect the amount of money that must be paid on the security deposit, and some landlords implement other fees, such as pet rent. You might also have preferences about whether or not you want to live with pets.