{"id":14942,"date":"2021-12-01T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-01T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/content-manager\/?p=14942"},"modified":"2023-07-22T11:36:33","modified_gmt":"2023-07-22T15:36:33","slug":"should-all-roommates-be-on-a-lease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/blog\/should-all-roommates-be-on-a-lease\/","title":{"rendered":"Should All Roommates Be on a Lease?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Renting an apartment is expensive, especially in larger cities like New York City<\/a> or Chicago<\/a>. Many prospective tenants decide to live with roommates so they can split the cost of rent and utilities. However, living with a roommate can pose many questions when it comes to signing the lease. First-time renters can continue reading to learn more about lease agreements with roommates and the benefits of signing a legal document with another person.<\/p>\n

Roommates and Leases<\/h2>\n

Renters can choose to live with roommates when they sign their lease<\/a>. The roommate lives in the apartment with the original tenant, and they will find an equitable rent split. Some roommates may split their rent evenly, or they may price each room and select which room they wish to live in and pay for. While \u201croommate\u201d is the colloquial term most people use to describe their living situation, a roommate is also called a co-signer<\/a>. Co-signers accept responsibility for paying the rent with the original tenant, and they will sign their name on the lease.<\/p>\n

Pros and Cons of a Roommate<\/h3>\n

In most cases, those deciding to live with a roommate probably need to do so for financial reasons. However, it\u2019s important to consider the person you decide to live with. On the day-to-day, you\u2019ll want to select someone with a similar cleanliness style, and someone who you get along with. White, you and your roommate do not need to be friends, it\u2019s helpful to live with someone who you can exchange pleasantries with.<\/p>\n

On the financial side, it\u2019s incredibly important to pick a roommate who you trust to pay their rent on time. This is where living with someone you know can be a benefit, as you\u2019ll have a better idea of their past renting experiences, their spending habits, and their overall reliability. However, some tenants may want to avoid living with people they know to avoid potential fallout from a roommate situation turned south.<\/p>\n

Do All Roommates Have to Sign a Lease?<\/h2>\n

When signing a lease, the landlord will present a document to all of the tenants, and ask for most of them to sign the paperwork. In most cases, all roommates will sign the lease together, and they will each have separate lines on a page. The roommate lease form looks the same for all roommates, and usually, each form will require the signatures of all the tenants in the apartment.<\/p>\n

As the bedroom count and number of roommates increase, the odds of everyone signing the lease decreases. This is more common if multiple roommates will share a room. For example, in a three-bedroom apartment with four roommates, only three may sign the lease as a tenant. However, any additional roommates may sign the lease as an occupant. An occupant is a designated roommate who does not share the same rules and obligations as the tenants. If you\u2019re looking to build your credit score<\/a>, acquire a recommendation letter at the end of your lease, or build your rental history, signing the lease as a tenant is a good idea.<\/p>\n

How Many People Can Be on a Lease?<\/h3>\n

A property owner may limit the number of people on a lease to one or two more than the total number of bedrooms. A landlord would not sign five renters on a one-bedroom lease, but they may accept an additional one or two occupants. This situation can vary based on the number of people under the age of 18<\/a> who live in the unit.<\/p>\n

Learn more:<\/p>\n