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:
If you are signing the same rental agreement with your friends, all of you acquire the status of cotenants. When you share a home with others, many questions may come up with regards to your legal obligations and responsibilities towards your roommates. Because you are given the status of a cotenant, all of you are jointly and severally liable. It means that each of you can be held responsible for the misdeeds of the others in matters of rent as well as other obligations.It is always advised that a roommate agreement is chalked out to give clarity to the relationship as roommates. The agreement should cover all the major issues that might bring inconveniences otherwise. They are as follows:
- Each roommate’s share of rent and how the payment shall be made to the landlord.
- The share of each roommate for meeting home expense such electricity bills, water bills, food expenses etc.
- Specify the space/rooms which will be occupied by each roommate.
- If a roommate decides to move out, the minimum notice period prior to the move.
- Notice to roommates when one of the roommates have guests staying over.
- In a case of irrevocable disagreement between roommates, how the person shall be evicted fairly.
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.
