Re: Prospective Tenant Decision? - Landlord Forum thread 323198

Re: Prospective Tenant Decision? by Anonymous on August 22, 2014 @13:50

If garnishment is allowed in your state, it doesn't matter whether both qualify individually. If they are both listed on the annual lease, it won't matter who actually lives there or whether one leaves, they will still both be 100% responsible for the rent so you can collect it from whomever has a job and the means to pay.

Once the lease expires, if one leaves s/he will have to terminate the lease and return the rental vacant (include that as a clause in your lease -- neither party terminates their obligation under the lease individually and termination means a proper 30-day notice and all occupants vacate the rental). They are jointly on the lease and must stay or go as a single unit.

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Re: Prospective Tenant Decision? by Anonymous on August 23, 2014 @12:43	[ Reply ]

In my state garnishment is limited and allowed for three certain debts only, but not for consumer debt. So it does matter if they qualify individually.

Re: Prospective Tenant Decision? by Bill on August 23, 2014 @15:45	[ Reply ]

When you rent to unmarrieds, at some point you are likely to hear from one of them informing you they are moving out and asking to be removed from the lease. So, you need to make it clear at the lease signing that this is not going to happen. Explain to each one that they will be on the hook for rent and repairs until the lease is signed. you will also need a signed agreement as to what happens to the deposit at the end of the lease. Because the one that moves out will one day contact you demanding all the deposit. If at some point they can not agree about the deposit, make the check out to both of them and mail it to the one that remains in the rental. The thing about requiring them to qualify singly is that the one who can not pay is the one you will be left with when the new wears off.

Re: Prospective Tenant Decision? by Anonymous on August 23, 2014 @16:50	[ Reply ]

Bill, you are right on. There is a chance they are married even though they have different last names. I will find out tomorrow!

Re: Prospective Tenant Decision?