Lease Ideas for Partial Tenant Vacancy

[Greg Jeanfreau]

We are in a situation where two tenants (1 male and 1 female - friends but, not a couple) leased half of a double a few months ago. We put them both on the lease. About a month and a half ago, I received a call from the female tenant that the male was drinking a lot and acting erratic. She said that he was punching furniture and and playing loud music and generally being a disturbance. Long story short, they are both on the lease and she moved out this weekend. Luckily, we charged a double deposit because she had no credit as in 0. Nothing. Not bad, but nothing at all. She paid all of the $2400 deposit herself and felt the need to leave so bad that she has left with the knowledge that she may lose the full $2400. So, now the guy has said that he will keep the place and pay all the bills while he searches for a new place. The tenants that share a wall have now complained that he is playing loud music and causing a disturbance at night - every night. I know what my options are moving forward and thank God Louisiana and New Orleans are relatively landlord friendly. Soooo, my question is: What are some ideas for verbiage that should I put in the lease covering ourselves when one of two (or a group) of tenants moves out? As of now, we are in limbo because they are both on the lease, she is gone even though she is he one who paid the deposit, he is likely going to be trouble and has no reason not to destroy the place on his way out. Some have said to just put one tenant on the lease, but I don't think that is the best solution. Our idea so far is a sort of poison pill clause that "if one tenant moves out, landlord reserves the right to cancel or renegotiate the lease" or something along those lines. I may have answered my own question but... Thoughts? Thanks in advance BP community!