Rentwise! Chapter Three -- "Living Together"

Young couples often make a hasty decision to move in together. Two months into the lease, the boyfriend quits his job or the girlfriend just says "bye-bye." One of them is stuck with a place they can't afford, and probably an eviction lawsuit as well. (See also Roommates in Chapter One.)

Don't be blind-sided by love!

• If you invite your girl/boyfriend to move in, make sure it's ok'ed by the landlord in writing. Otherwise, the "unauthorized occupant" could be cause for your eviction.
• Be cautious about moving into your lover's apartment unless he/she adds you to the lease. Otherwise, when love goes bad, your best ol' ex-friend could throw you on the street. Neither the landlord nor the law could help you.
• If you want to move in with someone, the landlord has the right to hold you to the same qualifying standards as other tenants, and to check your credit, etc. He/she may refuse to add you to the lease or to let you move in, especially if the existing lease prohibits it.
• Occasionally a landlord may refuse to rent to a couple because they are unmarried. Court cases have shown that this is not considered "discrimination" under the Fair Housing Act.

Tenant Tip: Every roommate should sign the lease. This will ensure EQUAL RESPONSIBILITY for rent, costs of damage or early termination, and EQUAL RIGHTS to possession and notice. "Equal responsibility" means all parties could be sued for the entire rent or damage. It does not mean that each roommate pays an equal share! "Equal rights" means that all who sign the lease can live there, no matter who pays the rent. The landlord will not play referee when roommates argue about who pays what share.

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