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| Another
alternative
If yours is the only name on the lease, you can
write a roommate contract rather than a sublease
that spells out your obligations to each other
as cotenants. Make sure you specify how much rent
each person will pay and when it will be paid.
Then get the contract notarized so that it’s
a legal document, and therefore more likely to
hold up in court if serious problems arise. You’ll
want to be sure, though, that your lease doesn’t
forbid additional tenants before you arrange for
a roommate. |
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In addition to the company they provide, a roommate
or roommates can share the rent and other expenses. That can make
it a lot easier to stay on top of housing costs. Just be sure to
know where you stand legally before moving in together.
In most cases, your landlord will want every roommate’s
name on the lease.
As cotenants, you are all responsible
for the rent, security
deposit, and any other costs that come up as a result
of renting the property. If one of you isn’t able to pay the
rent, causes serious damage to the place, or violates the lease
in any other way, the landlord can legally evict all of you, and
not just the guilty party. That could mean a black mark on your
credit history, as well as the cost
and difficulty of finding a new place to live.
Alternatively, if your landlord allows it, your roommate
can sign a sublease
and rent a room from you. That way, if your subletter
can’t pay the rent or does something to break the lease, you can
legally evict or kick him or her
out, rather than risk being evicted yourself.
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