Full question:
I am a first-semester university student. I was looking out for a place to stay near the campus. I found two other people from my class who were looking out for a place to stay. We have decided on a place to take up on rent. Do I need to have any precautionary measures in place while taking up a place on rent with others?
- Category: Landlord Tenant
- Subcategory: Residential Lease
- Date:
- State: National
Answer:
When you and your friends sign the same rental agreement, you become cotenants. This means you share legal responsibilities for the rent and obligations. If one person fails to pay, the others can be held accountable.
To avoid issues, it's wise to create a roommate agreement. This agreement should clarify important matters, including:
- Each roommate’s share of the rent and payment method to the landlord.
- How household expenses, like electricity and water bills, will be divided.
- The specific rooms or spaces each roommate will occupy.
- The notice period required if someone decides to move out.
- How to inform roommates about guests staying over.
- How to handle disagreements and the process for eviction if necessary.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.