Tenant Signatures on Lease - Landlord Forum thread

Tenant Signatures on Lease by Anonymous (MA) on March 30, 2012 @20:24

I have a married couple living in one of my rental units. I listed both their names on the lease however, they returned the lease to me with only one of their signatures. Is the lease still valid, i.e., would it be enforceable in court?

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Re: Tenant Signatures on Lease by Jake on March 30, 2012 @21:06	[ Reply ]

Get both of them to sign. Be sure to make a scan of their driver's license too so you can see what names are the same as on the lease. Just say you are updating your info. A great number of renters who claim to be married are not. Return the lease and ask the tenants to sign their names as they appear on their driver's license. The lease is not completed until both signitures are on it. Then get the driver's license and make a scan yourself or copy all the info and numbers. What will you do when the husband leaves and the wife is left in the rental? She is not financially responsible to you for rent, cleaning or damages. You will also need to have something signed that allows you to pay the deposit to the last tenant to depart that turns in the key. Otherwise, both will be asking for the deposit or at least their half. Then one will not want to pay for the damage that the other caused. It gets to be a real mess.

Re: Tenant Signatures on Lease by Anonymous on March 30, 2012 @21:34	[ Reply ]

Go in person when they are both home and get the other signature, and like Jake said, get the dr's license info--take a picture of it or something.

Re: Tenant Signatures on Lease

Re: Tenant Signatures on Lease by Eric (MN) on March 31, 2012 @08:22	[ Reply ]

It is still enforceable with the one who signed it. You should be signing the lease, in person, when you have over the keys. Not before.

Re: Tenant Signatures on Lease by thesis (MI) on March 31, 2012 @09:28	[ Reply ]

it would be enforcable for the one that signed