Tenants want to break lease

[John Pelaez]

I have a duplex (side by side). Side A signed a lease for 1 yr that starts Sep 1. They are inherited tenants. They are a couple, that's dating. The guy notifies me that he doesn't like her anymore and is wanting to move because he cant stand her. He tells me that its ok for him to move as long as she pays the rent. I tell him that both of you are responsible for the rent since you both signed the lease. Rent has been paid on time as well as deposit. Is there anymore I should be concerned about? What are my steps if he bails and leaves her? Together they are able to pay rent, but separately, I doubt she would be able to. If I end up having to evict her for non-payment, how do I go after him?

[Patrick Daniel]

Follow the letter of the lease (Assuming that it is enforceable according to your jurisdiction). 

You cannot force the boyfriend to live there, but you can hold him accountable for the payments being on time as stipulated in the lease. 

I would tell them that there are to be no half-payments and that only the entire payment will be accepted when due. 

They were grown up enough to decide to move in together and sign a lease stating they would pay the rent, so they are grown up enough to figure out how the payment will be made now that they don't "like each other"anymore.