What does “joint and several liability” mean? “Joint and several liability” is a standard legal term used in real estate. It means that all tenants and co-signers on the lease are treated as a single, collective unit by the landlord. Everyone on the lease is fully and equally responsible for ensuring the terms of the lease are met. This includes paying the total monthly rent and covering any damages to the property, regardless of how the tenants choose to divide those costs among themselves.
Can I sign a lease or co-sign just for my specific tenant/room? No. We lease the property as a whole and do not offer individual, per-room leases. When you act as a co-signer on a joint and several lease, you are guaranteeing the lease for the entire apartment or house, not just one individual’s un-official share.
What happens if one roommate doesn’t pay their share of the rent? Because the lease is for the entire property, the landlord expects one full payment for the property each month. If a roommate falls short, the landlord can legally collect the missing rent from any of the other tenants or co-signers on the lease. It is entirely up to the tenants to manage how rent is split internally and to ensure the total amount is paid on time.
Why do you use this type of lease? This is the standard leasing structure for group housing. It allows us to manage the home as a single property rather than micromanaging individual bedrooms. More importantly, it encourages roommates to communicate, set clear household expectations, and take collective responsibility for the home they share.
How can I feel comfortable co-signing for a whole group? The most important factor is trust. Before signing, we highly encourage tenants to get to know their future housemates and have open conversations about financial responsibility, house rules, and expectations. As a co-signer, your best protection is trusting the judgment of the person you are co-signing for and ensuring they feel completely confident in the group they have chosen to live with.
