Co-signer for a marginal tenant

[Aly W.]

Does anyone have any lease content for a co-signer, or should I contact my attorney? I have a potential tenant, but her last rental experience was not a good one. She had a roommate, so it's a "she said, she did" kind of thing. The management company did not speak well of either of them and there is a judgement against them both.

The applicant has a good job, good income, and the full security deposit. She offered to have a co-signer, who I said would need to go through the vetting process too.

Perfect tenants aren't exactly banging down the door, the rental has been vacant a couple of months, so I'm considering this one with a co-signer. What has been your collective experience with co-signers? Thanks in advance.

[Mark N.A]

I require my student tenants to have their parents co-sign.

It's never happened before, but if any students default I will slap a lien on the parent's house as fast as possible. Not only will I eventually get the owed money back, but also legal fees and interest.

Of course if the parents don't own their own house it's a useless point, and all I can do is threaten to ding everyone's credit.