separate lease agreements for each adult, or one for all adults?

[Greg Mayer]

Hi BP community!

Another newbie landlord question :)

My wife and I are purchasing a duplex in Atlanta, GA. One side of the duplex has tenants that might stay after we close, the other side is vacant. We're moving into the vacant side and are putting together a 12-month lease for the occupied side in case the current tenants want to stay (and we want them to stay). Either way we will manage the property ourselves.

There are a few adults (and a child) living in the occupied side. I have a copy of their current lease, and the adults living there all signed one lease with their names on it.

The BP Landlord Forms had a lease package that we purchased, and we noticed that the residential lease agreement has the language "Tenant” (singular).

So my impression is that depending on the lease document the landlord chooses to use, some landlords have all their tenants sign one document, other landlords have each tenant sign separate documents.

Any recommendations on whether every adult living in the unit sign a separate lease agreement with identical terms (one document per adult tenant), or one agreement document for all the adults?

[Ian Godfrey]

Hey Greg, remember your ultimate goal of the application is to screen your applicants and fill the unit with the best qualified applicant. With that said, and assuming you spoke to the prior landlord/owner and got a feel for the current tenants, why would you want to run them through the ringer separately?

I would use the one form as long as you can get the information you need from both of them to adequately check their, finances, credit and criminal background. 

Going forward however, once you move out of the other side and decide to rent it, I would employ the practice of using two separate apps for each adult desiring to rent the unit. 

I will caution you with this last thought, start thinking about if or when one of the adults in the current occupied unit move out. I would have a new app and lease agreement ready for the remaining adult so you at least you have one person you can hold accountable or go after should something happen.

Just my thoughts bud. :-)

Ian G.