Tenants parting ways

[Ed Brady]

I have a couple who I rented to back in November.   They both passed screening well and were looking to get out on their own and live together.    During screening, I found out they had no rental history, but everything else looked good.  As such, I decided to do a month to month lease in case any big issues came up.

I received a call from the male tenant, indicating that he wanted to move out by the end of the month as things we not working out between him and his girlfriend.  He is OK with forfeiting the Security deposit and letting his Girlfriend have it and she wants to continue living in the apartment.

I told him, that I can do that but she will need to sign a new month to month lease or lease addendum that removes his name and that he would be responsible for the apartment until the end of the month.

He called today and asking if there were some document that I could provide that they both could sign that would indicate that he was forfeiting the security deposit and she would be responsible for the state of the apartment and any damages when she moved out.  He want to move out this weekend and is concerned about the remainder of the month the lease is good for.    

What do you think is the best way to handle this?

Ed

[Travis Beehler]

I think if they've got a plan together and you're ok with it, a simple one page document signed and/or notarized saying he's leaving and she's staying and taking responsibility would do just fine.  It doesn't have to be "official", just something you type up in Word or something like that.