Renting to a boyfriend/girlfriend...how to write the lease

[Mike Porter]

Hi all,

I am renting a house next month to a current tenant at a different property who wants a bigger place and also wants to move in together with her boyfriend. Both currently have their own places and each have a child that would be moving in with them. I was originally going to write the lease between myself and each adult roommate (my current tenant and her boyfriend). After looking over the applications, I realized that my current tenant qualifies for the property on her own where as her boyfriend does not. My thinking is to put her name on the lease as the exclusive Lessee and her boyfriend as an approved occupant along with the names of the two children. 

I prefer to just have one responsible party in the case of a future breakup. This makes it clearer who the responsible party is for the terms of the lease. I understand that the boyfriend is still called out in the lease as an occupant and could have legal grounds to stay but thinking it just makes the financial obligation pretty clear. Maybe having them both responsible gives me more to go after should there be a collection problem in the future. I just feel like having both of them as the responsible party potentially sets me up for one saying I paid my portion and the rest is the other parties obligation.

Please let me know how you all handle roommate leases or non married couples in your leases.

Thanks,

Mike

[Tim Herman]

@Mike Porter what is the logic of limiting the ability to collect from both parties. Most rental agreements are jointly and severally liability of all adults. I've had some student rentals where there is a cosigner. A quick notice to the tenant and cosigner and voila my payment was received and never late again. They work out how they pay you. Don't take half the rent from the girl and half from the guy. You will accept one check or direct deposit.