Inheriting Tenants - One name on lease question?

[Ryan King]

I've searched about this but can't find it, thanks for any help: I'm about to close on a duplex, one side is currently rented, the other side I will occupy. The lease only has 1 name signed but I know there are at least 2 people living there from my walk-throughs. Also, the name and phone number my agent gave me to get in contact with them about rent/etc is not the name on the lease.

Should I care who pays rent? Does it need to be the person on the lease or as long as its paid I'm fine and then if it's not paid I "go after" the person on the lease?

Going forward, what do most of you do as far as roommates living together and leases? Multiple separate leases, one lease that all of them sign or how it is with one name on it and they can have roommates?

Thanks for help! I'm so thankful for this website.