My Tenant wants a roomate

[Ray Loveless]

I'm a land lord in salt lake city, Utah and one of my single male tenants wants his little brother to move in.  I'm not sure his little brother even has a job or would pass the credit check.  I was planning on having the little brother sign the lease but I would have a little ademdum in there stating that his brother is responsible for paying all the rent and that he would be moving out once his brother moves out.  I'm I approaching this wisely?  Thanks for the advise.

[Matthew L.]

I would process his brother on an application. For the very least, you need all that information.

And if you decide to keep the brother, add him on the lease. He takes part in the responsibility of the place, as well as another name on a judgment if you have to take them to court in the future.

In the event one person gives notice to move in the future, usually that counts for all people on the lease. It terminates the current lease arrangement. If you don’t feel comfortable with the new guy staying without the other, just make them aware at the end, when one gives notice, that it is a termination for all.