Co-signed Tenants or a Single Lessee?

Question

I had someone respond to my rental ad saying that she would like to look at the property and would be moving in with her boyfriend. I started wondering about a few things and I'm hoping some more experienced landlords here can offer some advice: in a situation with an unmarried couple, what are the pros and cons of having one person sign the lease alone, vs. having them co-sign together? Am I allowed to state my preference to the potential tenant, or is this a decision that needs to be made on their end?

Account Closed · Answer

Hello. Regardless of marital status, all adults need to sign the lease. What if she signed it alone, they break up, and she moves out? Then you have someone living there that has no responsibility on the lease. Always make all adults sign.

Roy N. · Answer

@Jay Staudt

Our practice requires all prospective tenants who are sound and of the age of majority (18 here), to complete a tenancy application.  Likewise, if their application is successful, all such tenants must be signatory to the lease.

Jay Staudt · Answer

Okay, that does seem to make a lot of sense. If I end up selecting this person as a tenant, I will make sure they both sign. Thanks everyone!

Chris Adams · Answer

100% get them both on the lease for the above stated reasons.

My lease also has the tenant list the names of each child.

Michele Fischer · Answer

Agree with all advice. It gives you more people to chase for collections too. For unmarried couples we designate the strongest applicant as the primary tenant to decide who stays or goes in case of break-up.

Angie W. · Answer

I agree with Michelle. I just dealt with a similar situation...a single guy rented my property - 1 1/2 years later he moved in a girlfriend (without notifying me and having her approved)...the situation turned ugly resulting in him having a court order against him not to return to the property. The girlfriend (whom I did not know) along with several other adults and children were living in my house. I had to evict the original tenant (even though he was no longer allowed on the property) and "unknown occupants". Needless to say the girlfriend and her friends trashed my house and I had no legal avenues to pursue against her because she was not a legal tenant and we had no "agreement".

Always have anyone over 18 who will occupy the property fill out an application and make sure they all meet your qualifications individually.